Phenytoin teratogenic effects
Common Questions and Answers about Phenytoin teratogenic effects
dilantin
A related discussion, <a href="/posts/Back--Neck/Epilepsy/show/1819840">Epilepsy</a> was started.
During those times I had not yet been diagnosed and was able to go back to life like normal, however after the diagnosis and being on phenytoin and switching to oxcarbazepine i am feeling awful. Dizzy, nauseated, moody, extremely tired, severe headaches that come and go. All i get from my Neurologist is these are side effects that will eventually go away. Because i never know when these symptoms will come on too strong I have missed a lot of days at work during my probation period.
Facial twitches are caused by stress and anxiety, muscle fatigue, side effects of medicines, high intake of caffeine, Parkinson’s disease in elderly, magnesium deficiency etc. Hemi facial spasm may be seen in tumors, multiple sclerosis, stroke etc. treatment may include balanced diet with mineral supplements like potassium, calcium, magnesium, massages for fatigue, B complex supplementation like avocadoes, bananas, legumes etc. drugs like gabapentin, phenytoin are used for hemifacial spasm.
Either studies in animals have revealed adverse effects on the fetus (teratogenic or embryocidal or other) and there are no controlled studies in women, or studies in women and animals are not available.
When used occasionally at recommended doses not exceeding package labeling, aluminum and magnesium containing antacids have not been found to produce teratogenic effects and are generally considered safe for use during pregnancy.
Hypermagnesemia, hypomagnesemia, and increased tendon reflexes have been reported in infants whose mothers were using aluminum and magnesium containing antacid products chronically and in high or excessive doses during their pregnancy.
Although there is no harmful effects on longterm uses but there is no added benefit.Better you should discontinue it and it can be stopped all of sudden,no tapering is required.He did not had any TIA after december 2007 probably he is using aspirin,atorvastatin,atenolol regularly.Please continue these drugs.
Best wishes.
Hi, just thought I would add and say Thanks for the extra info.
30yrs on phenytoin [Dilantin] I'm in uk, Now discovered, the neurology department had lost my notes [thought I was a new customer :-o] I self diagnosed and pushed to see neurologist [1st time in 13yrs] The side effects I'm experiencing from the drug that gave me my life back are frightening. The neuro has me changing to Lamotragine - its a 6mth turnover till I am completely off phenytoin.
The antiepileptic drugs need to be checked for a dosage modulation, assessment of adverse effects due to chronic usage over years like megaloblastic anemia, gingival hypertrophu and osteomalacia with phenytoin.
Take care.
No drug-related teratogenic effects were observed in progeny of mice (up to 140 mg/kg or 420 mg/m2), rats (up to 80 mg/kg or 480 mg/m2) or rabbits (up to 300 mg/kg or 3600 mg/m2) treated with tramadol by various routes. Embryo and fetal toxicity consisted primarily of decreased fetal weights, skeletal ossification and increased supernumerary ribs at maternally toxic dose levels. Transient delays in developmental or behavioral parameters were also seen in pups from rat dams allowed to deliver.
Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients. Ribavirin has demonstrated significant teratogenic and embryocidal effects in all animal species in which adequate studies have been conducted. These effects occurred at doses as low as one twentieth of the recommended human dose of ribavirin.
Folic acid supplementation in folate-deficient patients with epilepsy changes the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin, usually leading to lower serum phenytoin concentrations and possible seizure breakthrough..."
It however says that initiation of Folic acid and phenytoin together is beneficial.
Since you can't go back and start all over again, you can take a small dose. It has been observed that as los as 1mg dose can perturb phenytoin’s levels, You may take doses lower than 1mg/day.
Teratogenic effects were not observed in animal studies. Diphenhydramine crosses the human placenta. One retrospective study showed an increased risk of cleft palate formation following maternal use of diphenhydramine during the 1st trimester of pregnancy; however, later studies have not confirmed this finding. Signs of toxicity and symptoms of withdrawal have been reported in infants following high doses or chronic maternal use close to term.
Acute alcohol consumption increases the availability of phenytoin (Dilantin) and the risk of drug-related side effects. Chronic drinking may decrease phenytoin availability, significantly reducing the patient's protection against epileptic seizures, even during a period of abstinence. Any form of alcohol, even beer is contraindicated for some time when you are weaned off dilantin.
Sexual activity is an exertional activity which can cause exertional or sexual headache.
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