Side Effects:

Common Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), Double vision, Sleepiness, Anemia, Peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness of feet and hand), Gingival hyperplasia, Increased hair growth, Osteoporosis.

Expert advice for Phentoin Tablet
Phentoin should be taken at the same time every day to maintain consistent levels in your body. Do not stop using Phentoin without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better. It causes sleepiness or drowsiness. If this happens to you, do not drive or use machinery. Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Phentoin, as it may cause excessive sleepiness or drowsiness. It may increase blood sugar levels.Inform your doctor if you are taking any medicines to treat diabetes. Do not start any medicine including herbal or ayurvedic without telling your doctor. As it may significantly change the Phentoin levels. Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney or liver problems. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does Phentoin work?
Phentoin is used to control seizures (fits) in epilepsy patients and it works by suppressing the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.

Q. Does Phentoin cause gingival hyperplasia?
Phentoin is known to cause gingival hyperplasia (enlarged gums). To avoid this, you must maintain a good dental hygiene (taking proper care of your teeth and gums). Please consult your doctor if you have enlarged gums after taking Phentoin.

Q. Does Phentoin cause osteomalacia?
Osteomalacia (softening of the bones) has been associated with long-term (>10 years) use of Phentoin by patients with chronic epilepsy. There have been reports of bone disorders including osteopenia (reduced protein and mineral content of bone tissue) and osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) and fractures with Phentoin. Please consult your doctor for further information.

Q. Can I take Phentoin with aspirin?
Phentoin can decrease the levels of aspirin by increasing its metabolism (breakdown) and hence decrease its effect. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Phentoin with ibuprofen?
Phentoin can be taken with ibuprofen. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Phentoin with paracetamol?
Phentoin decreases the level of paracetamol by increasing its metabolism (breakdown). Increased metabolism of paracetamol can increase the levels of substances that can cause liver damage. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Is Phentoin a narcotic?
Phentoin is not a narcotic substance. Phentoin belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-epileptic medicines, these medicines are used to treat epilepsy.

Q. Is Phentoin a controlled substance?
Phentoin is not a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession or use is regulated by a government.

Q. Is Phentoin dialyzable?
Phentoin is not dialyzable by a conventional hemodialysis machine but can be dialyzed by a high permeability type of hemodialysis. To know more about the different types of dialysis and dialysability of Phentoin, please consult your doctor.

Q. Is Phentoin teratogenic (cause birth defects)?
Phentoin is teratogenic. Based on human experience, Phentoin is suggested to cause congenital malformations (birth defects) when given during pregnancy. It can cause defects of the heart, brain, fingers and can decrease the growth of the unborn baby.

Q. Is Phentoin a cytochrome P450 (CYP450) inducer?
Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is an enzyme which causes metabolism (breakdown) of many drugs. Phentoin is a CYP450 enzyme inducer (increases the working of CYP450) causing increased breakdown of some medicines given along with Phentoin (known as drug-drug interactions). Please consult your doctor before taking any medicines along with Phentoin as it may affect the metabolism of the medicines which are metabolized by CYP450 for example Vitamin D.

Q. Is Phentoin basic or acidic?
Phentoin is a weakly acidic drug.

Q. Is Phentoin addictive?
Phentoin has not been reported to have any addictive potential and it does not show any symptoms of dependence. However, it should be taken for the duration as advised by your doctor.

Q. Does Phentoin get you high?
Phentoin does not give you a high.

Q. Does Phentoin cause hyponatremia?
Phentoin does not cause hyponatremia (low sodium levels). However, Phentoin is known to cause hypernatremia (high serum sodium level >145 mmol/L).

Q. Does Phentoin cause QT prolongation?
Phentoin is not known to cause QT prolongation (abnormal heart rhythm). However, it can rarely cause abnormal heart rhythms. Please talk to your doctor if you have any abnormal heart rhythm (beats) while taking Phentoin.

Q. Does Phentoin affect thyroid?
Thyroid function may get affected while you are taking Phentoin, especially in children. Thyroid function should be monitored while taking Phentoin. Please consult your doctor if you have hypothyroidism or a history of hypothyroidism.

Q. Does Phentoin cause weight gain?
Phentoin has not been reported to cause weight gain. However, weight loss can occur with longer term use of a higher dose of Phentoin. Please consult your doctor if you experience weight gain after taking Phentoin.

Q. Does Phentoin make you sleepy (sedation)?
Phentoin can make you feel sleepy (sedation, somnolence, and drowsiness). Please consult your doctor if you feel very sleepy after taking Phentoin, especially during the first few weeks of treatment or following a dose increase. Talk to your doctor as you may be advised not to drive or use machines until it is established that your ability to perform such activities is not affected.

Q. Does Phentoin affect birth control?
Phentoin does affect birth control. Phentoin can decrease the effect of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) which can make the contraceptive (birth control) effect unreliable. Please talk to your doctor if you are asked to take the two medicines together as you may need to use extra protection for birth control.