Significant drug interaction: phenytoin toxicity due to erlotinib.
Brain metastases are a frequent finding in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and concomitant administration of antiepileptic and chemotherapeutic drugs or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor is necessary in many cases. Anticonvulsants have clinically significant interactions with other drugs used in brain tumor patients. We report a case in which a potential drug interaction resulted in elevated phenytoin levels after initiation of erlotinib therapy in a patient who was receiving phenytoin.
Grenader
Tal
T
Department of Oncology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. talgrenader65@hotmail.com
Gipps
Maya
M
Shavit
Linda
L
Gabizon
Alberto
A
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D010672:Phenytoin; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride