What can you teach a patient about phenytoin?

Take phenytoin at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take phenytoin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

What is the nursing considerations for phenytoin?

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS – Doses should be adjusted carefully, starting with low doses and increasing gradually until seizures are controlled or there are overdose effects. – Leukopenia that is severe, progressive or associated with clinical symptoms requires withdrawal.

What should be monitored when taking Dilantin?

Phenytoin can cause rare serious skin reactions such as exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis2. Although these can occur without warning patients should be counselled to report and monitored for rashes, blisters, fever and other signs of hypersensitivity.

What is an important nursing consideration when administering IV phenytoin Dilantin?

Continually monitor patient’s cardiac rhythm and check BP frequently and regularly during IV infusion. Suggest use of fosphenytoin sodium if IV route is needed. Monitor injection sites carefully; drug solutions are very alkaline and irritating. WARNING: Monitor for therapeutic serum levels of 10–20 mcg/mL.

What should you avoid when taking phenytoin?

Other Interactions Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur.

What should I check before giving phenytoin?

Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine test to check kidney function. Liver function tests. Glucose test to measure your blood sugar, because phenytoin can cause your blood sugar to rise. Blood tests to measure the sodium level in your blood.

What should the nurse include as a possible adverse effect when teaching a client about phenytoin?

Nervous System: The most common adverse reactions encountered with phenytoin therapy are nervous system reactions and are usually dose-related. Reactions include nystagmus, ataxia, slurred speech, decreased coordination, somnolence, and mental confusion.

What do you monitor with phenytoin?

How often should Dilantin levels be monitored?

Depending on the state of the patient, phenytoin levels are generally monitored at 3- to 12-months intervals10.

Should Dilantin be taken with milk?

You may give phenytoin with food or milk, but be consistent. Always give phenytoin with food or milk or always give it on an empty stomach. If your child is taking chewable tablets, encourage your child not to swallow them whole. Instead, the chewable tablets may be chewed, crushed, or mixed with food.

Do you take Dilantin with food?

Conclusions: Results suggest that when taking phenytoin sodium with food, product switches may result in either side effects or loss of seizure control.

How do you monitor phenytoin?

After a patient has received a loading dose of intravenous phenytoin, levels can be checked one hour after the dose. If loading is achieved by oral dosing, phenytoin levels can be checked 24 hours after the last dose10. This level can aid in determining maintenance dose or need to reload.

What teaching will you provide to the guardian of a pediatric client prescribed phenytoin?

Always give phenytoin with food or milk or always give it on an empty stomach. If your child is taking chewable tablets, encourage your child not to swallow them whole. Instead, the chewable tablets may be chewed, crushed, or mixed with food.

Do you need to monitor phenytoin levels?

Phenytoin blood testing is ordered because phenytoin blood levels must be maintained within a narrow therapeutic range. If levels are too low, the affected person may experience seizures; if they are too high, the person may experience symptoms associated with phenytoin toxicity.

What can I monitor with phenytoin?

Does Dilantin have to be taken with food?

The results of a study comparing the absorption of Dilantin in fasted and fed subjects (see the article by Cook et al. 40 in this issue of Neurology) revealed that food slowed absorption but had no affect on bioavailability and that Dilantin may be taken without regard to meals.

Should you shake Dilantin before giving?

If your child is taking liquid phenytoin, shake the bottle well before using and measure out each dose with the special spoon, dropper, or syringe that the pharmacist gave you. If your child has a feeding tube, the liquid or capsule forms of phenytoin may be used.

Should Dilantin be taken on an empty stomach?

You may take it with food if stomach upset occurs. Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Swallow the capsules whole.

How should phenytoin treatment be monitored?

Why does phenytoin need to be monitored?

Therapeutic drug monitoring of phenytoin is necessary to ensure therapeutic and nontoxic levels. Hypoalbuminemia, renal failure, and interactions with other highly protein-bound drugs (e.g., valproic acid) alter protein binding of phenytoin.