Fosphenytoin
Information about Fosphenytoin
Fosphenytoin uses
Fosphenytoin is used in the treatment of epilepsy/seizures.
How fosphenytoin works
Fosphenytoin is an antiepileptic medication. It controls seizures or fits by decreasing the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.
Common side effects of fosphenytoin
Vomiting, Sleepiness, Dizziness, Itching, Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), Rash, Headache, Nausea, Dryness in mouth, Blurred vision, Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation), Double vision, Vertigo, Confusion, Cardiac arrest, Tremors, Euphoria (feeling of intense excitement and happiness), Taste change, Ringing in ear, Abnormality of voluntary movements, Coordination disorder, Difficulty in speaking, Stupor, Visual impairment, Lazy eye, Deafness, Hypotension (low blood pressure), Ecchymosis (discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath), Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness), Weakness, Chills, Nervousness, Altered thinking, Hypoesthesia (decreased sensitivity to stimuli), Increased reflexes, Hearing loss, Muscle weakness, Muscle twitching, Decreased white blood cell count (lymphocytes), Granulocytopenia, Low blood platelets, Decreased blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets), Extrapyramidal symptoms, Cardiotoxicity, Pneumonitis, Respiratory disorder, Increased glucose level in blood, Gingival hyperplasia, Excessive hair growth on face, Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats), Psychosis, Hypersensitivity, Peyronie's disease, Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Cardiovascular collapse, Liver failure, Blood system abnormalities, Lymphatic system abnormalities, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Polyarthritis, Purple glove syndrome
Available Medicine for Fosphenytoin
Expert advice for Fosphenytoin
- It is given as an injection either into a vein (intravenously) or into a muscle (intramuscularly).
- Take your medication regularly as directed by your doctor as missing doses can trigger seizures.
- Do not change the brand of your medicine and make sure that you have sufficient amount of medicine present with you.
- Some healthy tips to prevent seizures:
- Practice yoga every day.
- Get enough sleep at nighttime.
- Limit the use of screen time such as mobile/laptop.
- Take your medication on time.
- It may cause dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
- It may increase blood sugar levels.Inform your doctor if you are taking any medicines to treat diabetes.
- Inform your doctor if you develop any unusual changes in mood or behavior, new or worsening depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior.
Frequently asked questions for Fosphenytoin
Fosphenytoin
Q. Why is Fosphenytoin better than phenytoin?
Fosphenytoin does not have side effects which are commonly associated with the use of phenytoin such as injection site irritation and sudden changes in the heart rate (arrhythmia), hence Fosphenytoin is better than phenytoin.
Q. What happens if I stop taking Fosphenytoin?
Suddenly stopping Fosphenytoin may cause non-stop seizures (called status epilepticus), which can endanger life. Hence, do not stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor. If required, your doctor may slowly reduce the dose before stopping it completely.
Q. What are the symptoms that occur if I take more than the recommended dose of Fosphenytoin? Can I die from Fosphenytoin overdose?
Overdose of Fosphenytoin may cause jerky movements of the eyes (nystagmus), unclear speech, loss of balance, tremor, muscle stiffness or weakness, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, fainting, blurred vision, slow and shallow breathing and even coma. Fosphenytoin overdose can cause very low blood pressure and respiratory problems. As a result of this, the patient can even die.