Product Details

What you need to know before you take Phenytoin Sodium Capsules

Do not take Phenytoin tablets • if you are allergic to phenytoin, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). • if you are allergic to other medicines with a similar chemical structure to phenytoin (e.g. hydantoins) Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Phenytoin sodium. Medicines are not always suitable for everyone. Your doctor needs to know before you take phenytoin if you suffer from or have suffered in the past from any of the following conditions: • liver disease • kidney disease • Porphyria (an inherited disease that affects haemoglobin biosynthesis) The following symptoms have been reported in some people treated with phenytoin at recommended doses: • shortness of breath, becoming unconscious, or unresponsive. All can be the symptoms of the sudden, unexpected stopping of the heart (known as cardiac arrest). If you or someone you know is taking Phenytoin and experiencing these symptoms, seek immediate medical support. • severe allergic reactions like swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, mouth and / or throat, as well as the tongue may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing (known as angioedema) and sudden wheeziness. All these can be symptoms leading to a sudden, unexpected stopping of the heart (known as cardiac arrest). Stop taking your medicine and seek immediate medical help. • slower heartbeat (known as bradycardia). A small number of people being treated with antiepileptics such as phenytoin sodium have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately contact your doctor. Potentially life-threatening skin rashes (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) have been reported with the use of Phenytoin Tablets, appearing initially as reddish target-like spots or circular patches often with central blisters on the trunk. Additional signs to look for include ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals and conjunctivitis (red and swollen eyes). These potentially life-threatening skin rashes are often accompanied by flu-like symptoms, including fever at the initiation of treatment. The rash may progress to widespread blistering or peeling of the skin. The highest risk for occurrence of serious skin reactions is within the first weeks of treatment. If you have developed StevensJohnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis with the use of Phenytoin Tablets, you must not be re-started on Phenytoin Tablets at any time. If you develop a rash or these skin symptoms, stop taking Phenytoin Tablets, seek urgent advice from a doctor and tell them that you are taking this medicine. Consult your doctor before permanently discontinuing Phenytoin Tablets. If you suddenly stop taking this medicine you may have a seizure. Talk to you doctor before taking Phenytoin tablets if you are of Taiwanese, Japanese, Malaysian or Thai origin and tests have shown that you carry the genetic variant CYP2C9*3. Serious skin side effects can rarely occur during treatment with phenytoin. This risk may be associated with a variant in genes in a subject with Chinese or Thai origin. If you are of such origin and have been tested previously carrying this genetic variant (HLA-B* 1502), discuss this with your doctor before taking Phenytoin tablets. There is a risk of harm to the unborn child if Phenytoin tablets are used during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should use effective contraception during treatment with Phenytoin tablets (see Pregnancy, contraception in women and breast-feeding). Other medicines and Phenytoin tablets Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines can affect the way Phenytoin works, or Phenytoin itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time. These include: • Medicines used for heart and circulation problems (amiodarone, digoxin, furosemide, reserpine, ticagrelor, warfarin, and calcium channel blockers e.g. diltiazem, mexiletine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, disopyramide and verapamil) • Medicines used to lower blood cholesterol, (e.g. atorvastatin, fluvastatin and simvastatin) • Medicines used for epilepsy (carbamazepine, lacosamide, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, sodium valproate, topiramate and valproic acid, succinimides e.g. ethosuximide and vigabatrin) • Medicines used to treat fungal infections (e.g. amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole) • Medicines used for tuberculosis and other infections (chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, sulphonamides, sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, efavirenz, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, ritonavir and saquinavir). • Medicines used for stomach ulcers (omeprazole, sucralfate, the medicines known as H2 antagonists e.g. cimetidine and some antacids) • Medicines used for asthma and bronchitis (theophylline) • Medicines used for pain and inflammation (salicylates e.g.aspirin and steroids) • Medicines used for sleeplessness, depression and psychiatric disorders (chlordiazepoxide, clozapine, diazepam, disulfiram, fluoxetine, methylphenidate, paroxetine, phenothiazines, trazodone, tricyclic antidepressants, fluvoxamine, quetiapine and sertraline) • Medicines used for diabetes (tolbutamide) • Some hormone replacement therapies (oestrogens), oral contraceptives (the birth control pill) • Medicines used for organ and tissue transplants, to prevent rejection (ciclosporin and tacrolimus). • Medicines used for cancer (antineoplastic agents) e.g. bleomycin, capecitabine, carboplatin, cisplatin, doxorubicin, fluorouracil and methotrexate) • Muscle relaxants used for surgery (neuromuscular blockers), some anaesthetic drugs (methadone) • Medicines used as anticoagulants (e.g. rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban) • Some products available without a prescription (folic acid, theophylline, St John’s Wort, vitamin D) Your doctor may need to test the amount of Phenytoin in your blood to help decide if any of these medicines are affecting your treatment. The herbal preparation St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) should not be taken at the same time as this medicine. If you already take St John’s wort, consult your doctor before stopping the St John’s wort preparation. Phenytoin tablets may also interfere with certain laboratory tests that you may be given. Phenytoin with food, drink and alcohol Phenytoin tablets can be taken before or after food and drinks. Drinking a lot of alcohol can also affect the concentration of Phenytoin in your blood. Pregnancy, contraception in women and breast-feeding Pregnancy What you should know about the use of antiepileptic drugs in pregnancy If you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, you must tell your doctor straight away and discuss possible risks the epilepsy medicine you are taking might pose to your unborn baby. If you are planning to become pregnant you should discuss your epilepsy treatment with your doctor as early as possible before you become pregnant. You should not stop your treatment without discussing this with your doctor. Suddenly stopping may lead to breakthrough seizures which may harm you and your unborn baby. It is important that your epilepsy is well controlled. Taking phenytoin during pregnancy increases the chance that the baby may have a physical birth abnormality. Studies with women treated with phenytoin for epilepsy during pregnancy have shown that around 6 babies in every 100 will have serious physical birth abnormalities. This compares to 2-3 babies in every 100 born to women who don’t have epilepsy. The most common types of serious physical birth abnormalities (major congenital malformations) reported for phenytoin include abnormalities of the lip and palate, heart, skull, nail and finger disorders and growth abnormalities. Some of these may occur together as part of a foetal hydantoin syndrome. Taking more than one epilepsy medicine at the same time may also increase the risk of physical birth abnormalities. Where possible, your doctor will consider using one epilepsy medicine only to control your epilepsy. Your doctor may advise you to take folic acid if you’re planning to become pregnant and while you’re pregnant. Your doctor may adjust your epilepsy medicine when you take folic acid. Some studies observed that taking phenytoin during pregnancy increases the chance that the baby may have problems affecting learning and thinking abilities. Other side-effects that may occur are: • Effects on your nervous system: Unusual eye movements, unsteadiness, difficulty in controlling movements, shaking, abnormal or uncoordinated movements, slurred speech, confusion, pins and needles or numbness, drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo, sleeplessness, nervousness, twitching muscles, headaches and taste change. • Effects on your skin: skin rash including measles-like reactions which are mild and hives (raised, itchy areas of skin). • Effects on your stomach and intestines: feeling sick, being sick and constipation. • Effects on your blood and lymph system: swelling of the lymph glands, a decrease in the number of a type of red blood cell (pure red cell aplasia). • Effects on your liver and kidney: inflammation of the kidneys and liver, liver damage (seen as yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye). • Effects on your reproductive system: changes in the shape of the penis, painful erection. • Effects on your hands, face and body: changes in the hands with difficulty in straightening the fingers, changes in facial features, enlarged lips or gums, increased or abnormal body or facial hair. • Effects on medical tests: increased levels of blood sugar, or decreased levels of blood calcium, folic acid and vitamin D and abnormal thyroid function test results. If you also do not get enough vitamin D in your diet or from exposure to sunlight, you may suffer from bone pain or fractures. • Effects on your respiratory system: problems breathing, inflammation of the lining of the lung. • Effects on your immune system: problems with the body’s defence against infection, inflammation of the wall of the arteries. • Effects on your bones: There have been reports of bone disorders including osteopenia and osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) and fractures. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are on long-term antiepileptic medication, have a history of osteoporosis, or take steroids. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. 5. How to store Phenytoin Sodium Milpharm tablets Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture. Keep the HDPE bottle tightly closed. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) which is stated on the carton and foil. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not throw away any medicines via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment. 6. Contents of the pack and other information What Phenytoin tablets contain • The active substance is Phenytoin sodium. Each film-coated tablet contains 100 mg of phenytoin sodium. • The other ingredients are Tablet core: Mannitol Crospovidone Magnesium stearate Croscarmellose sodium Tablet coat: Hypromellose Macrogol 400 Titanium dioxide Sodium lauryl sulfate What Phenytoin tablets look like and contents of the pack White to off-white, oval shaped, film-coated tablets debossed with ‘C’ on one side and ‘70’ on the other side. Polyamide/Aluminium/PVC//Aluminium blister pack: 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 50, 60, 84, 100, 112, 200 and 250 film-coated tablets HDPE container with a polypropylene closure and silica gel dessicant: 30 film-coated tablets Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder Milpharm Limited Ares, Odyssey Business Park West End Road South Ruislip HA4 6QD United Kingdom Manufacturer APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited HF26, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Hal Far Birzebbugia, BBG 3000 Malta or Milpharm Limited Ares, Odyssey Business Park West End Road South Ruislip HA4 6QD United Kingdom This leaflet was last revised in 09/2022. If you take Phenytoin tablets during pregnancy, your baby is also at risk for bleeding problems right after birth. Your doctor may give you and your baby a medicine to prevent this. Moreover, your child should be closely monitored. Contraception in women If you are of childbearing age and are not planning a pregnancy, you should use effective contraception during treatment with Phenytoin tablets. Phenytoin may affect how hormonal contraceptives, such as the contraceptive (birth control) pill, work and make them less effective at preventing pregnancy. Talk to your doctor, who will discuss with you the most suitable type of contraception to use while you are taking phenytoin. Breast-feeding Phenytoin Tablets passes into breast milk. You should not take Phenytoin Tablets if you are breast-feeding. Driving and using machines Phenytoin may cause dizziness or drowsiness, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. If you experience these symptoms do not drive or use any tools or machinery. Phenytoin Tablets contains Sodium. This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.