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| Pronunciation |
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 (me
FEN i
toyn) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Mesantoin® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Anticonvulsant, Hydantoin |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to other hydantoins, mephenytoin, or any other
part of the medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used to prevent or reduce the number of seizures a
person has.
- It is also used to control seizures in patients who have not had
success with other medicines.
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|
| How does it work? |
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|
- Mephenytoin stabilizes excitable areas in the brain where seizures may
start.
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| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- If taken once daily, take at a similar time every day.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly decreased. May cause
seizures.
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Wear disease medical alert identification for seizure disorder.
- If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects. You could feel
confusion, tired, sleepy, or staggering.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). It changes how the
body handles the medicine making it either more or less effective depending on
how you drink alcohol.
- Avoid other depressant medicines (sedatives, tranquilizers, mood
stabilizers, pain medicine) that slow your actions and reactions. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Make sure that you follow your state's laws about driving as a seizure
patient.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Birth control pills may not work. Use another form of birth control
while taking this medicine.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Feeling sleepy, tired, dizzy, or unable to think clearly. Avoid
driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you
see how this medicine affects you.
- Confusion, mood changes, or slurred speech can occur too.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or
unsteady.
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|
| What should I monitor? |
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|
- Blood tests may be needed. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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