PHENYTOIN (DILANTIN®) INTOXICATION

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Abstract
Phenytoin intoxication is illustrated by 8 case histories, which show how the symptoms may be confused with those of such disorders as gastro-entritis, cancer of the digestive tract, intracranial tumor or recurrence of an intracranial abscess, basilar artery insufficiency, hysteria, and posterior fossa encephalitis. The determination of the serum phenytoin often establishes the diagnosis in patients receiving phenytoin therapy in whom there is a vague clinical picture. Where there is hepatic disease special attention should be paid to the risk of phenytoin intoxication. The simultaneous administration of phenytoin and other drugs (dicoumarol, sulfaphenazole, phenylbutazone, and para-amino salicyclic acid + isoniazide) may lead to an increased phenytoin concentration in the serum. The case history of a patient in whom dicoumarol induced phenytoin intoxication is reported.