What is Fosphenytoin?
Fosphenytoin, an anticonvulsant, is used to control or prevent seizures. Fosphenytoin can be used for a short time or when other forms of phenytoin are not available. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of fosphenytoin.
Side effects of Fosphenytoin
If you experience any of the following: signs or symptoms of an allergic response (hives or difficulty breathing, swelling on your face or in your throat); or a severe reaction to skin (fever, a sore throat); burning eyes; skin pain or rashes with blisters and peeling; or red or purple skin
If you experience a severe drug reaction, seek medical attention. Symptoms include skin rash or hives, swollen or enlarged glands, muscle pain, weakness, and unusual bruises.
Fosphenytoin can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Shortness of breath, very slow heartbeats
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Confuse yourself with unusual thoughts or behaviors.
- Pain, swelling, and purple discoloration at the injection site may spread into your fingers or hands.
- Tingling, or burning sensation.
- A sudden rise in temperature, chills, a sore throat, and weakness
- Easy bruising and unusual bleeding
- Signs and symptoms of swollen nodes: a painful, red, or warm lump under the skin; unusual fatigue; skin rash or rash; unexplained loss of weight or fever
- Low blood potassium can cause leg cramps, constipation, increased thirst and urination, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness.
Side effects of fosphenytoin include:
- Dizziness, drowsiness;
- Unusual or involuntary movements of the eye;
- Vomiting;
- Itching;
- Problems with muscle or balance movement.
There may be other side effects.For medical advice regarding side effects, always seek medical advice from your physician first. For reporting purposes, call the FDA's Hotline at 1-800-FDA-1088 to file any incidents of harm that have arisen.
Warnings
Do not use it other than as directed. Inform your doctor of any other medications you are taking or if you have allergies or other medical conditions.
Before you take this drug
Fosphenytoin should not be used if:
- Slow heartbeats
- Adams-Stokes syndrome (a heart rhythm disorder);
- Block heart;
- Dilantin (PHYTOIN) causes liver damage.
- If you are also taking delavirdine,
Provide information to your doctor concerning any of the following:
- Heart disease
- Liver or kidney disease
- Diabetes (fosphenytoin may raise blood sugar levels);
- Low blood pressure
- Porphyria
- If you consume large quantities of alcohol,
Patients with Asian ancestry are at a greater risk of developing an uncommon but serious skin reaction. A blood test may be required to determine whether you are at risk for this skin reaction. You should not stop or start seizure medications during pregnancy without consulting your doctor. A seizure could be harmful to both mother and child. These risks may be outweighed by the benefits of preventing seizures. Inform your doctor immediately if you fall pregnant. Other seizure medications may be safer to take during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you received fosphenytoin while pregnant. You and your baby may both need medication to stop bleeding during birth or just after. Fosphenytoin may make birth-control pills ineffective. Ask your doctor about alternative birth-control methods such as a skin patch, vaginal rings, or condom. Ask your doctor if you can safely breastfeed if you are taking this medication.
How to take Fosphenytoin?
A healthcare provider injects fosphenytoin into a muscle or vein. The doctor will monitor you for a period of 10 to 20 minutes to ensure that the medicine is not causing any harmful side effects. You will be closely monitored for your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rhythm. It can also affect certain medical tests. Inform any doctor that you see about your fosphenytoin use. If you suddenly stop taking fosphenytoin, seizures may increase. Before stopping fosphenytoin, consult your doctor.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you forget to take a fosphenytoin dose, call your doctor.
What happens if I overdose?
Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency medical care. Overdoses can be deadly. Overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and feeling lightheaded. Other symptoms include tingling or muscle spasms.
What should be avoided?
Avoid alcohol consumption.
Interaction with other drug
Sometimes taking certain medications together can be unsafe. Some drugs may interfere with each other and increase side effects and make them less effective, potentially increasing side effects or decreasing efficacy. Fosphenytoin can make you more drowsy when taken with other drugs. Before taking an opioid, sleeping pill, muscle relaxant, anxiety medicine, or medication for seizures, consult your doctor. Fosphenytoin can be affected by many drugs. These include prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions. Inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking.
