Acute effects of intravenous phenytoin on the frequency of inter‐ictal spikes in man.

Abstract

Phenytoin was administered intravenously to six adult epileptic patients in doses ranging from 500–1000 mg (equivalent to 5.6 mg/kg‐ 20 mg/kg body weight). A significant decrease in the frequency of inter‐ ictal spikes in the EEG was seen and this effect was most marked 10–20 min after the infusion, when the mean spike count was reduced to 27% (s.d. 17%) of the control (P less than 0.05). In one subject the decrease in inter‐ictal spikes coincided with a decrease in fit frequency. Adverse reactions affecting the vestibular system occurred in three patients at doses of 15–20 mg/kg. No cardiovascular complications were observed in any subject. The overall results suggest that doses of 7.5–10 mg/kg would be sufficient to significantly reduce the frequency of inter‐ictal spikes in the EEG. 1983 The British Pharmacological Society