Biomaterial Database

Phenytoin kinetics in children. 1976

R G Curless, and P D Walson, and D E Carter

Previous studies have shown the importance of phenytoin kinetics in the management of adult patients with seizure disorders. The long half-life in adults makes single daily dosing realistic in terms of blood levels and anticonvulsant effectiveness. This report shows a wide range in both half-lives and volumes of distribution of phenytoin in 11 children (ages 6 months to 6 years) with seizure disorders. Ten of these patients have very short phenytoin half-lives (1.2 to 6.7 hours). The data strongly suggest that current recommendations for phenytoin dosage regimens in adults cannot necessarily be used in children. Blood levels must be followed closely in this age group to determine the required dosage and dose interval.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008297	Male		Males
D010672	Phenytoin	An anticonvulsant that is used to treat a wide variety of seizures. It is also an anti-arrhythmic and a muscle relaxant. The mechanism of therapeutic action is not clear, although several cellular actions have been described including effects on ion channels, active transport, and general membrane stabilization. The mechanism of its muscle relaxant effect appears to involve a reduction in the sensitivity of muscle spindles to stretch. Phenytoin has been proposed for several other therapeutic uses, but its use has been limited by its many adverse effects and interactions with other drugs.	Diphenylhydantoin,Fenitoin,Phenhydan,5,5-Diphenylhydantoin,5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione,Antisacer,Difenin,Dihydan,Dilantin,Epamin,Epanutin,Hydantol,Phenytoin Sodium,Sodium Diphenylhydantoinate,Diphenylhydantoinate, Sodium
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260	Female		Females
D006207	Half-Life	The time it takes for a substance (drug, radioactive nuclide, or other) to lose half of its pharmacologic, physiologic, or radiologic activity.	Halflife,Half Life,Half-Lifes,Halflifes
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man