PHENANTOIN Meaning and
Definition
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Phenytoin, commonly known as Phenantoin, is a medication used primarily as an anticonvulsant to control and prevent seizures. It belongs to the class of drugs known as hydantoins and acts by slowing down excessive electrical activity in the brain.
Phenantoin works by stabilizing the cell membranes in the brain, which helps prevent the abnormal firing of electrical signals that can lead to seizures. It achieves this by inhibiting the spread of sodium ions across the cell membranes, making them less excitable. Additionally, it can delay the recovery of sodium channels, preventing repetitive, sustained discharges responsible for seizure onset.
This medication is predominantly used to treat various types of epilepsy, including generalized tonic-clonic seizures, partial seizures, and a specific type called status epilepticus. It may also be utilized for other medical conditions, such as trigeminal neuralgia and arrhythmias.
Phenantoin is typically administered orally in tablet or capsule form and is generally well-tolerated by most patients. However, it may cause side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, gum overgrowth, and occasionally more severe allergic reactions.
It is important to note that Phenantoin requires close monitoring to ensure therapeutic blood levels, as too low levels may result in inadequate seizure control, while excessively high levels can lead to toxicity. Hence, regular blood tests are necessary to maintain a balance between efficacy and safety when using this medication.
Common Misspellings for PHENANTOIN
- ohenantoin
- lhenantoin
- -henantoin
- 0henantoin
- pgenantoin
- pbenantoin
- pnenantoin
- pjenantoin
- puenantoin
- pyenantoin
- phwnantoin
- phsnantoin
- phdnantoin
- phrnantoin
- ph4nantoin
- ph3nantoin
- phebantoin
- phemantoin
- phejantoin
- phehantoin
Etymology of PHENANTOIN
The word "Phenytoin" is derived from its chemical name, "5,5-diphenylhydantoin", which reflects its chemical structure and composition. "Hydantoin" refers to a class of organic compounds containing a five-membered ring with two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The prefix "diphenyl-" indicates the presence of two phenyl groups in the molecule. Over time, "5,5-diphenylhydantoin" was shortened to "phenytoin" for simplicity and ease of use.
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