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Phenytoin
About Phenytoin
One of the oldest antiseizure medications. Phenytoin or Dilantin treats tonic clonic seizures and status epilepticus. It was first synthesized in 1908, and in 1938 H. Houston Merritt and Tracy Putnam found that it controlled seizures in an animal model. Phenytoin revolutionized epilepsy treatment as an effective antiseizure medication without the sedation of phenobarbital. The drug has a narrow therapeutic window, and blood levels are routinely monitored. Long term use causes gum overgrowth, facial changes, and other side effects. Despite being superseded by newer drugs, it remains important.
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