Dilantin Side Effects

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Dilantin Review Questions and Answers

Generic Names:  Side effects of Dilantin
 
Side effects of Dilantin:
Gastrointestinal Nausea, vomiting, constipation, toxic hepatitis and liver damage
Neurological Neurological nystagmus, ataxia, slurred speech, decreased coordination, and mental confusion. Dizziness, insomnia, transient nervousness, motor twitchings, and headaches, dyskinesias, including chorea, dystonia, tremor and asterixis
Immunologic Hypersensitivity syndrome (which may include, but is not limited to, symptoms such as arthralgias, eosinophilia, fever, liver dysfunction, lymphadenopathy or rash), systemic lupus erythematosus, periarteritis nodosa and immunoglobulin abnormalities.
Connective Tissue Coarsening of the facial features, enlargement of the lips, gingival hyperplasia, hypertrichosis, and Peyronie's disease.
Hematologic Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis, and pancytopenia with or without bone marrow suppression, and lymphadenopathy
Dermatologic Morbilliform rash (measles-like)
Pharmacology of Dilantin:
Question:
What is the mechanism of dilantin?
Answer:
Dilantin causes a use dependent blockade of sodium channels.
Question:
How does dilantin (phenytoin) cause a megaloblastic anemia?
Answer:
Phenytoin is known to interfere with vitamin B12 metabolism
Question:
What is the mechanism of dilantin (phenytoin)?
Answer:
Dilantin stabilized membranes of neurons by decreasing the influx of sodium ions in neurons in the resting state. During depolarization, it results in decreased influx of the sodium and calcium ions