Phenytek Uses

Phenytek is primarily used for treating certain types of seizures in adults and children. The prescription medication is approved for controlling seizures during or after brain surgery, complex partial seizures, and grand mal seizures. Some off-label Phenytek uses include treating nerve pain, arrhythmias, and migraines.

 

What Is Phenytek Used For?

Phenytek® (phenytoin sodium) is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of seizures in people with epilepsy. In particular, Phenytek is approved to control the following types of seizures:
 
  • Seizures during or after brain surgery.
     
  • Complex partial seizures -- complex partial seizures involve decreased consciousness ("complex") and only affect one part of the brain ("partial").
     
  • Generalized tonic-clonic seizures -- these seizures are also known as "grand mal" seizures, they affect the whole brain ("generalized"), and involve muscle rigidity and contractions ("tonic-clonic").
     

Epilepsy and Seizures

Epilepsy is a condition of the brain that occurs when there are sudden, brief changes in the brain's electrical system. These changes in brain activity can lead to seizures (see Epilepsy Symptoms). Depending on which part of the brain is affected, a seizure may affect the person's consciousness, body movements, emotions, or senses (taste, touch, smell, vision, or hearing).
 
Some people may only have a single seizure during their lifetime, and one seizure does not mean that a person has epilepsy (see Seizures and Epilepsy). In fact, the term epilepsy refers to a number of different kinds of unprovoked, recurring seizures that happen for a number of different reasons.
 
In over half of all cases, the cause of epilepsy is not known. When the cause of epilepsy is known, it may be one of the following:
 
Epilepsy treatments may include medications (see Epilepsy Medication), surgery (see Epilepsy Surgery), diet changes (see Epilepsy Diet), and biofeedback.
 
There are over 30 different types of seizures a person with epilepsy may experience. These seizures are generally classified into two main categories -- partial seizures (also known as focal seizures) and generalized seizures.
 
(Phenytek Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;