It’s an antiepileptic drug .It
used to give first line treatment for patient in seizure and trigeminal neuralgia.
It broadly used in emergencies.
What is the action of phenytoin
sodium?
It suppresses the abnormal
brain activities by reducing electrical conductance in brain cells and stabilizes
voltage-gate sodium channels in seizures and trigeminal neuralgia.
Side effect of phenytoin sodium ?
The main side effect of the
phenytoin sodium are-
- Nystagmus-its condition of voluntary
or involuntary movement of the eyes acquired in infancy or later in life
and result in lessor limited vision.
- If there is excessive dose of phenytoin sodium or toxicity than it
leads to sedation
- cerebral ataxia (lack of voluntary coordination
of the muscle)
- Opthalmopeasis (paralysis of one or
more extra ocular muscle which are responsible for eye moment)
- It accumulates in the cerebellum and cause atrophy of the
brain.
- Administration of phenytoin sodium reduces folic acid predisposing to megaloblastic
anemia, and over growth of the gums.
- Teratogen effect-phenytoin sodium not
prescribed in pregnancy it cause fetal hydation. This syndrome
consists of craniofacial anomalies (broad nasal bridge, cleft lip and
palate, microcephaly).
- Dermatitis, rash, hypertrichosis
(abnormal hair growth on body also called werewolf syndrome), hirsutism
(excessive hairiness on women).
