Phenytoin (Dilantin)

ATI-format individual drug card with NCLEX-focused assessment, safety, teaching, and source attribution.

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Phenytoin (Dilantin)

ATI class: Antiepileptic / Hydantoin anticonvulsant

Action

  • ATI/source-folder candidate for Phenytoin (Dilantin); verify mechanism against the source table before validation.

Therapeutic use

  • Review under Seizure medication safety.

Nursing assessment

  • Maintain seizure precautions.
  • Monitor serum level when ordered.
  • Assess gait, nystagmus, mental status, and gingival tissue.

Administration

  • Verify route against the order and source table.

Side effects

  • Verify common side effects against the source table.

Adverse effects

  • Ataxia
  • Nystagmus
  • Gingival hyperplasia
  • Rash including severe skin reactions
  • Blood dyscrasias

Interactions

  • Many CYP-mediated drug interactions including warfarin and oral contraceptives.
  • Alcohol can alter serum levels and increase CNS effects.
  • Enteral feedings can reduce absorption.

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to phenytoin or hydantoins

Precautions

  • Use caution in pregnancy, liver disease, and clients with poor adherence risk.
  • Do not stop antiepileptic therapy abruptly.

Client teaching

  • Use meticulous oral hygiene and dental follow-up.
  • Take consistently and do not skip doses.
  • Report rash, fever, sore throat, unusual bleeding, or toxicity symptoms.

Medication outcomes

  • Therapeutic response with no priority adverse effects.

Antidote / rescue

  • No specific antidote is seeded; hold/question unsafe doses and manage toxicity per provider, facility, or poison-control guidance.

NCLEX priority cues

  • Ataxia and nystagmus can indicate toxicity.
  • Severe rash is a stop-and-escalate cue.
  • Protect the client during seizure activity; do not restrain.

Medication classes

Antiepileptics

Source attribution

Google Drive source topic: Seizure
google-drive
Sentinel pharmacology API reference
sentinel-api
Manual ATI-format NCLEX candidate normalization
manual-seed

Related study cards

Shows the medication class, ATI cues, source references, and connected study cards for this drug.

12 study links
Med classmedication class
Antiepileptics

Calms abnormal neuronal firing so seizures are less likely to start or spread.

ATI cueInteraction
Alcohol can alter serum levels and increase CNS effects.

ATI medication interaction concept.

ATI cueClass
Antiepileptic

ATI medication class concept.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
Assess gait, nystagmus, mental status, and gingival tissue.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
Ataxia

ATI medication adverse effect concept.

ATI cueNCLEX Priority Cue
Ataxia and nystagmus can indicate toxicity.

ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.

ATI cueMechanism of Action
ATI/source-folder candidate for Phenytoin (Dilantin); verify mechanism against the source table before validation.

ATI medication mechanism of action concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
Blood dyscrasias

ATI medication adverse effect concept.

ATI cuePrecaution
Do not stop antiepileptic therapy abruptly.

ATI medication precaution concept.

ATI cueInteraction
Enteral feedings can reduce absorption.

ATI medication interaction concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
Gingival hyperplasia

ATI medication adverse effect concept.

ATI cueClass
Hydantoin anticonvulsant

ATI medication class concept.