Phenytoin overdose

• Alternative names
• Definition
• Poisonous Ingredient
• Where Found
• Symptoms

• Home Treatment
• Before Calling Emergency
• Poison Control, or a local emergency number
• What to expect at the emergency room
• Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names   

Definition    Return to top

Phenytoin overdose is poisoning from an overdose of phenytoin.

Poisonous Ingredient    Return to top

Diphenylhydantoin (Phenytoin)

Where Found    Return to top

• Dilantin
• Antisacer
• Dintoina
• Diphenylan Sodium
• Epanutin
• Fenytoin

This list may not be all-inclusive.

Symptoms    Return to top

• Body as a whole
  • Unsteadiness
  • Swollen gums
  • Fever
  • Tremor
  • Convulsions (occasionally)
  • Rigidity
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Nystagmus (side-to-side eye movement)
• Heart and cardiovascular
  • Low blood pressure
• Nervous system
  • Sleepiness
  • Confusion
  • Slurred speech
  • Dizziness
  • Coma

Home Treatment    Return to top

Contact Poison Control for instructions.

Before Calling Emergency    Return to top

Determine the following information:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
• The time it was swallowed
• The amount swallowed
• If the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison Control, or a local emergency number    Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room    Return to top

Some or all of the following may be performed or given:

• Maintaining the airway
• Maintaining breathing
• Activated charcoal
• Laxative
• Gastric lavage В 
• Close observation
• Monitoring ofВ phenytoin blood levels
• Treatment ofВ other symptoms

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

• Mild overdose (no treatment is necessary):
  • The patient can be aroused.
• Moderate overdose (recovery is usually within 24В - 48 hours with proper treatment):
  • The patient cannot be aroused, but vital functions are normal.
• Severe overdose (a 3В - 5 day period may be required before the patient recovers, and fatality rate is less than 5%):
  • The patient cannot be aroused and vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure ) are abnormal.