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Mephenytoin

Brand Names

; Mesantoin®

Anticonvulsant, Hydantoin

If you have an allergy to other hydantoins, mephenytoin, or any other part of the medicine.

This medicine is used to prevent or reduce the number of seizures a person has.
It is also used to control seizures in patients who have not had success with other medicines.

Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an upset stomach.
If taken once daily, take at a similar time every day.
Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it for a long time. Medicine should be slowly decreased. May cause seizures.

Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with healthcare provider.

Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
Wear disease medical alert identification for seizure disorder.
If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects. You could feel confusion, tired, sleepy, or staggering.
You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). It changes how the body handles the medicine making it either more or less effective depending on how you drink alcohol.
Avoid other depressant medicines (sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, pain medicine) that slow your actions and reactions. Talk with healthcare provider.
Make sure that you follow your state's laws about driving as a seizure patient.
Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control that you can trust while taking this medicine.
Birth control pills may not work. Use another form of birth control while taking this medicine.
Do not use if you are breast-feeding.

Feeling sleepy, tired, dizzy, or unable to think clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
Confusion, mood changes, or slurred speech can occur too.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.

Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.
Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
Too tired or sleepy.
Any rash.
No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).