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| Pronunciation |
|
 (me
FEN i
toyn) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Mesantoin® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Anticonvulsant, Hydantoin |
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|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to other hydantoins, mephenytoin, or any other
part of the medicine.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to prevent or reduce the number of seizures a
person has.
- It is also used to control seizures in patients who have not had
success with other medicines.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Mephenytoin stabilizes excitable areas in the brain where seizures may
start.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- If taken once daily, take at a similar time every day.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly decreased. May cause
seizures.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Wear disease medical alert identification for seizure disorder.
- If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects. You could feel
confusion, tired, sleepy, or staggering.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). It changes how the
body handles the medicine making it either more or less effective depending on
how you drink alcohol.
- Avoid other depressant medicines (sedatives, tranquilizers, mood
stabilizers, pain medicine) that slow your actions and reactions. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Make sure that you follow your state's laws about driving as a seizure
patient.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Birth control pills may not work. Use another form of birth control
while taking this medicine.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Feeling sleepy, tired, dizzy, or unable to think clearly. Avoid
driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you
see how this medicine affects you.
- Confusion, mood changes, or slurred speech can occur too.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or
unsteady.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Blood tests may be needed. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
|
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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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