Your family doctor must check your progress at regular appointments , especially during the first few months of treat with this drug. During this time the amount of drug you are taking may have to be changed often to meet your individual needs.
Do not start or stop taking any other drug without your family doctor's advice. Other medication may effect the way this drug works .
This drug will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants - medication that may make you drowsy or less alert. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or drug for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping drug; prescription pain drug or narcotics; barbiturates; other drug for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics Check with your family doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this drug .
Do not take this drug within 2 to 3 hours of taking antacids or drug for diarrhea. Taking these medication and hydantoin anticonvulsants too close together may make the hydantoins less effective.
Do not change brands or dosage forms of phenytoin without first checking with your family doctor. Different products may not work the same way. If you refill your drug and it looks various, check with your pharmacist.
If you have been taking this drug regularly for few weeks or more, do not suddenly stop taking it . Your family doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are taking before stopping completely.
Your family doctor may want you to carry a medical identification card or bracelet stating that you are taking this drug.
For diabetic diseaseds:
Before you have any medical tests, tell the family doctor in charge that you are taking this drug. The results of some tests - including the dexamethasone, metyrapone, or Schilling tests and certain thyroid function tests may be effected by this drug.
Before having any kind of surgery, dental treat, or emergency treat, tell the family doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this drug . Taking hydantoin anticonvulsants together with medication that are using during surgery or dental or emergency treats may cause increased side effects.
This drug may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. After you have taken this drug for a while, this effect may not be so bothersome. However, make sure you know how you react to this drug before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert .
Oral contraceptives - birth control pills containing estrogen or progestin, contraceptive progestin injections - Depo-Provera, and implant contraceptive forms of progestin - Norplant may not work properly if you take them while you are taking hydantoin anticonvulsants. Unplanned pregnancies may occur. You must use a various or additional means of birth control while you are taking hydantoin anticonvulsants . If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
For diseaseds taking phenytoin or mephenytoin :