Dilantin medication side effects can include a type of skin condition that, though rare, can threaten the patient with permanent injury or even death.

Dilantin, also known by its generic name phenytoin, has a long history of use as a treatment for neurological disorders.

It was first developed in Germany over a hundred years ago. The Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company then purchased the rights to phenytoin but did not find a use for it right away.

In 1938, scientists first became aware of phenytoin’s ability to control seizures. The FDA finally approved it for that use in 1953.

Even though doctors have relied on Dilantin for so many years, it’s not without its side effects. Some of the more common Dilantin medication side effects tend to affect movement and coordination – side effects like trembling, impaired coordination, or difficulty with speaking or swallowing. Other common effects may include confusion or nervousness.

In much rarer cases, patients suffering from Dilantin side effects have developed a severe rash with blistering and peeling of the skin.

These are the characteristic symptoms of a potentially fatal drug reaction known as Stevens Johnson syndrome. This condition and its more serious manifestation known as toxic epidermal necrolysis may require prolonged hospitalization, and they can put the patient at risk for a slew of destructive complications.

Case Study of Dilantin Medication Side Effects

A case study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics in 2013 recounted the story of one 28-year-old woman treated for Stevens Johnson syndrome that was traced to her anti-seizure treatment with phenytoin.

The woman was hospitalized and prescribed phenytoin after an episode of seizures. Three days into her hospitalization, she had a fever, itching, and a mild rash all over her body. The next day she developed oral ulcers, and her doctors suspected she had Stevens Johnson syndrome.

With almost two weeks of treatment, she showed no new symptoms, and her rash began to improve. But then her skin started peeling all over her body, and she had to be given intensive care. The peeling and discoloration worsened over several days. After multiple changes in medication, her symptoms finally began to improve.

She eventually healed up enough to go home, but not until after more than 50 days in the hospital.

FDA: Asian Patients at Greater Risk

Patients with ancestry from broad areas of Asia may be at a particularly increased risk. In November 2008, the FDA announced it was investigating preliminary data that suggested a higher risk of developing Stevens Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis in patients of certain Asian ancestry who take Dilantin.

According to the alert, the trait is the HLA-B*1502 allele, which occurs almost exclusively in Asian populations including Thais, Filipinos, Malaysians, Han Chinese, and South Asian Indians. Based on the preliminary data, the FDA recommended that healthcare providers avoid prescribing phenytoin and fosphenytoin in patients who test positive for that allele.

Fortunately, Stevens Johnson syndrome is one of the rarest Dilantin medication side effects.

For patients who do develop it, however, the potential harm can be devastating. The physical harm and pain can be excruciating, and treatment may require weeks spent in the hospital, causing the patient to miss work while racking up substantial medical bills.