MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Phenytoin overdose

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Phenytoin overdose

Contents of this page:
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

Diphenylhydantoin

Definition Return to top

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 procedures may be performed:

Maintain the airway.
Maintain breathing.
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a laxative.
Use gastric lavage.
Observe the patient closely.
Monitor phenytoin blood levels.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Mild overdose:

The patient can be aroused.
No treatment is necessary.

Moderate overdose:

The patient cannot be aroused, but vital functions are normal.
Recovery is usually within 24 to 48 hours with proper treatment.

Severe overdose:

The patient cannot be aroused and vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure) are abnormal.
Even with proper treatment, a 3 to 5 day period may be required before the patient recovers. The fatality rate is less than 5%.

Update Date: 8/6/2003

Updated by: Ari Schwell, M.D., Director, Emergency Department of the Episcopal Campus of Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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