What happens if you take too much phenytoin?
An overdose of phenytoin can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include twitching eye movements, slurred speech, loss of balance, tremor, muscle stiffness or weakness, nausea, vomiting, feeling light-headed, fainting, and slow or shallow breathing. Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking phenytoin.
How much phenytoin is lethal?
Most reported cases involve ingestion of other substances along with phenytoin. Fatal cases of single phenytoin ingestions typically involve serum concentrations of greater than 125 mg/L.
Is phenytoin toxicity fatal?
Phenytoin toxicity is rarely fatal, but can cause neurologic symptoms ranging from nystagmus to ataxia to coma. Intravenous phenytoin administration may rarely be complicated by the Purple Glove Syndrome. The basic pharmacology, presentation, and management of phenytoin toxicity will be reviewed here.
What are the signs and symptoms of phenytoin toxicity?
Symptoms of a phenytoin overdose may include:
- Coma.
- Confusion.
- Seizures (occasionally)
- Dizziness.
- Fever.
- Low blood pressure.
- Muscle rigidity or spasms.
- Sleepiness.
What happens if you take too much seizure medication?
Toxicity increases as plasma concentration rises above therapeutic range; if it goes higher than 40 μg/mL, serious complications such as respiratory depression, apnoea, coma and ventricular arrhythmias can occur. Children and adolescents may be at greater risk at lower serum levels than adults.
When was phenytoin toxicity first reported?
The first documented case of phenytoin toxicity is from 1948, in a patient with epilepsy for 4 years who took an intentional overdose [2].
What is phenytoin encephalopathy?
We know that patients on chronic phenytoin therapy may rarely develop encephalopathy with toxicity that is known as the ‘phenytoin encephalopathy syndrome’, but it is usually seen in pediatric patients and is associated with a very high phenytoin level, usually more than 40 μg/ml.
Does phenytoin cause encephalopathy?
We suggest that the phenytoin did not precipitate hepatic encephalopathy, but caused an encephalopathy that mimicked it. We recommend that phenytoin be used cautiously in patients with liver disease, and that the drug’s unbound serum level be measured if encephalopathy occurs.
What are the long term side effects of phenytoin?
Long-term use of phenytoin also has been found to cause weakening of the bones. Bone disease is even more likely if a combination of seizure medicines is used….Long-term side effects
- overgrowth of the gums.
- excessive hair on the face or body.
- acne.
- coarseness of facial features.
Can seizures cause brain damage?
To summarize, prolonged seizures can result in brain damage, while recurring seizures can also have adverse effects on brain functioning. In turn, traumatic brain injuries can also lead to various types of seizures, which may cause further damage.
What is the life expectancy of a person with seizures?
Reduction in life expectancy can be up to 2 years for people with a diagnosis of idiopathic/cryptogenic epilepsy, and the reduction can be up to 10 years in people with symptomatic epilepsy. Reductions in life expectancy are highest at the time of diagnosis and diminish with time.
What are the signs and symptoms of chronic phenytoin toxicity?
– overgrowth of the gums (in children and young adults during long-term therapy), – sexual dysfunction (such as decreased libido, impotence, and painful, prolonged erections), – darkened skin coloration (more commonly in women), and – unusual hair growth that may be irreversible.
What are the symptoms of prednisone overdose?
Burning/itchy skin.
What are symptoms of accidental dihydrogen monoxide overdose?
Dihydrogen Monoxide overdose in these patients can result in congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema and hypertension. In spite of the danger of accidental overdose and the inherent toxicity of DHMO in large quantities for this group, there is a portion of the dialysis treated population that continues to use DHMO on a regular basis.
What are the symptoms of an overdose of acetaminophen?
An enlarged liver