Is Generic Phenytoin as Good as Dilantin?
This is a difficult question. Technically, all generic versions of
Dilantin should be equivalent to their brand-name counterparts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given all generic
phenytoin versions an "AB" or "AP" rating, which means that tests have shown that they should be equivalent to the brand-name medicine. However, many healthcare providers feel that switching between different brands of Dilantin or phenytoin is not a good idea. Even small changes in the level of phenytoin in your blood can cause problems.
If you are stable on a particular brand of Dilantin or phenytoin, it is best for you to stay on that brand, if possible. If you must switch brands, your healthcare provider may want to check the level of Dilantin in your blood. It may be useful to know that there is often little difference in price between brand-name and generic Dilantin (though this may vary from one pharmacy to the next).
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