Why do we give phenytoin in 1-0-2 dose after discharge? Why two tablets at night?
Phenytoin causes marked drowsiness that can confound the mental status (read GCS) exam in medicated patients, most critically those who have had neurosurgery and are given phenytoin for postoperative seizure control. In an outpatient being prescribed phenytoin one would plausibly order more to be taken when the patient is likely to be asleep instead of when they're awake.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
One article says, previously, we used to give 300 mg once daily. After chronic use, patients started developing adverse reactions of drug. It was then decided to start using phenytoin in divided doses. (100 mg TID).
Also remember that gingival hyperplasia is a very important and distinctive secondary effect of phenytoin, my teachers say that it stays even if you stop the medicine, but I'm not sure of that since I have not read that anywhere else.