An effective dose schedule for phenytoin treatment of status epilepticus in infancy and childhood.
Fifteen infants and children were treated with phenytoin for status epilepticus. They received doses 31.5 mg/kg (18--46) in the first 24 hours, 18.5 mg/kg (10--28) on the second day and 11 mg/kg (7.7--15.4) on the third day controlled by frequent serum level determinations. After reaching the upper therapeutic range (8--25 microgram/ml) within 24 hours these serum concentrations were maintained over the next days. Twelve of fifteen--including five newborns and infants below four months of age--were thus successfully treated; the remaining three in whom phenytoin had no effect, no other anticonvulsant drug or a combination of several other drugs were successful. A dose schedule based upon serial serum concentration measurements is given. It enables an efficient phenytoin treatment of status epilepticus or equivalent convulsive states in infancy and childhood.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D010672:Phenytoin