Hydantoin anticonvulsants - hye-DAN-toyn an-tye-kon-VUL-sants are using most often to control certain convulsions or seizures in the treat of epilepsy. Phenytoin also may be using for other conditions as determined by your family doctor.
In seizure disorders, these medication act on the central nervous system - CNS to reduce the number and severity of seizures. Hydantoin anticonvulsants may also produce some unwanted effects. These depend on the patient's individual condition, the amount of drug taken and how long it has been taken. It is important that you know what the side effects are and when to call your family doctor if they occur.
Hydantoin anticonvulsants are available only with your family doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
Because fosphenytoin is converted to phenytoin in your body, it has the same effects as those listed for phenytoin in the following sections.
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
In Canada
Another commonly using name for phenytoin is diphenylhydantoin .
Note:For quick reference, the following hydantoin anticonvulsants are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.
This information applies to the following medication: 1. Ethotoin - ETH-oh-toyn† 2. Fosphenytoin - fos-FEN-i-toyn 3. Mephenytoin - me-FEN-i-toyn† 4. Phenytoin - FEN-i-toyn † Not commercially available in Canada Generic name product may be available in the USA