Is phenytoin safe for infants?

Is phenytoin safe for infants?

Conclusion: To achieve therapeutic serum phenytoin levels in infants, doses of 10-20 mg/kg/day are required. These higher doses can be safely administered without clinical toxicity.

What is Eptoin used for?

Eptoin Tablet is a prescription medicine used to treat and prevent epilepsy (seizures). It controls seizures by decreasing the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.

How do you give phenytoin to a newborn?

A stat dose may be given in this manner: Phenytoin must be administered slowly. In neonates phenytoin should be administered at a rate not exceeding 1 to 3 mg/kg/min. The administration of the drug may be made easier by dilution (must be with saline solution eg. NaCl 0.9 %) to 5 mg/mL.

Can phenytoin be used in children?

Phenytoin is a commonly used antiepileptic medication in the pediatric age group, but it has a narrow therapeutic range. Various adverse effects have been reported commonly. We report a relatively rare case of encephalopathy in a child from overdose of injectable phenytoin due to ignorance of the previous treatment.

What does phenytoin do to baby?

If phenytoin is taken by the mother in the first trimester, there is approximately a 5 to 10 percent chance that the baby could be born with a combination of birth defects known as the Fetal Hydantoin Syndrome. Babies with this syndrome may be born with some of the following health problems: Growth deficiency.

How do you give a child phenytoin?

You may give phenytoin with food or milk, but be consistent. Always give phenytoin with food or milk or always give it on an empty stomach. If your child is taking chewable tablets, encourage your child not to swallow them whole. Instead, the chewable tablets may be chewed, crushed, or mixed with food.

What are the side effects of Eptoin?

Eptoin Side effects:

• ☞ Rash.
• ☞ Headache.
• ☞ Dizziness.
• ☞ Vomiting.
• ☞ Nausea.
• ☞ Slurred speech.
• ☞ Vertigo.
• ☞ Confusion.

How do you treat seizures in newborns?

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of neonatal seizures is essential. Your baby’s health care team will also work to identify and treat any underlying cause of the seizures. To control the seizures, anticonvulsant medications may be prescribed, including phenobarbital, lorazepam and phenytoin.

What medicine can I give my 6 month old for seizures?

Phenobarbital is the most commonly used AED for treating neonatal seizures. The dosage aims at reaching a level in the baby’s blood (a free plasma concentration) of at least 25 micrograms per milliliter (mcg/mL). Dilantin (phenytoin) is the second most commonly used medication.

Is Eptoin and phenytoin same?

Eptoin tablet is also used for the prevention of seizures (fits) during brain-related surgery. It contains phenytoin as its active ingredient.

What are side effects of phenytoin?

Side effects of phenytoin

• Headaches. Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids.
• Feeling drowsy, sleepy or dizzy. As your body gets used to phenytoin, these side effects should wear off.
• Feeling nervous, unsteady or shaky.
• Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
• Constipation.
• Sore or swollen gums.

Can phenytoin be mixed with milk?

Can I stop Eptoin?

What happens if I stop taking Eptoin Tablet? Suddenly stopping Eptoin Tablet may cause non-stop seizures (called epileptic status) that could endanger life. Do not stop taking the medicine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will reduce the dose slowly, if necessary, before stopping it completely.

Does phenytoin make you sleepy?

Phenytoin oral capsule may cause drowsiness. This can slow your thinking and motor skills. You shouldn’t drive, use machinery, or do other tasks that require alertness until you know how this drug affects you. Phenytoin can also cause other side effects.

Are seizures normal in babies?

Seizures are the most common neurological emergency in the first 4 weeks of a baby’s life. As many as 1–5 babies per 1,000 experience a seizure. Some seizures only last a few minutes and occur once, leaving no lasting damage.

Do seizures go away in babies?

In most cases, the seizures go away by the time the child is 16 months old. About 11% of children go on to develop other types of seizures.

How long should I take Eptoin?

On average, Eptoin Tablet can stay in your system for 5-6 days. The duration varies from person to person. In some cases, it may take about 9-10 days to stay.