title: Phenytoin toxicity due to fluoropyrimidines (5FU/capecitabine): three case reports.
abstract: Interactions between phenytoin and the fluoropyrimidine derivatives, 5 fluorouracil (5FU) and capecitabine, are not commonly documented or widely recognised. As more people with significant medical comorbidities are now being considered for chemotherapy, it is increasingly likely that people receiving phenytoin will be prescribed treatment with fluoropyrimidines. We present two cases of clinical phenytoin toxicity occurring after starting treatment with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5FU/FA) and a third who developed clinical phenytoin toxicity after starting capecitabine (an orally administered prodrug of fluorouracil).
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, Auckland Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland 1, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brickell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D010672:Phenytoin; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil