Nursing Pharmacology  Dilantin
Channel: EmpoweRN
Date: 2016-02-17

Learn about a seizure medication called dilantin quickly and easily!  This video includes drug information that registered nurses and nursing students need to be aware of. It also includes information about seizure in general. Additionally there is a nursing exam/NCLEX style quiz available to help you test your knowledge!

http://empowern.com/2016/02/dilantin/
I would like to thank the video contributors:
Artem Shestakov
Dr. Meena
Rizalyn Joy Gadugdug 
Maria Salvacion Gonzales 


Critical Analysis of Dilantin (Phenytoin) Drug
Dilantin or Phenytoin is a drug primarily used in the prevention and management or control of specific types of seizures or epilepsy (mainly with complex partial seizure and generalized tonic-clonic seizures), and also in the prevention and treatment of seizures that occue during or after a neurosurgery. Therefore, this drug is categorized as anticonvulsant or anti-epileptic according to the drug categorization system. It is thought to act through the reduction or slowing down of the brain impulses that may lead to seizures. One must note that this medication is not effective in treating all types of seizures and a physician can assess if it is the right medicine for a certain patient. In addition to its efficacy in limiting seizures, Dilantin drug frequently enhances the medical condition as well as the outlook of epileptic clients. There is a substantial evidence that Dilantin is effective in the treatment of certain cardiac arrhythmias. 
This drug medication may be sold under various brand names and/or in a variety of forms including capsules, infatabs, suspension and vial/injectable forms. According to the Federal law, the sale of Dilantin drug is prohibited without prescription. 
Action Mechanism for Dilantin Drug
Dilantin or Phenytoin induces its anticonvulsant activity by blocking sustained high frequency repetitive firing of the action potentials. This is achieved by reduction in the amplitude of the sodium-dependent action potentials through the enhancement of steady state inactivation. Sodium channels may exist in three key conformations- resting state, open state and inactive phase. Dilantin binds preferentially to the inactive form of sodium channel. Since it takes some time for the bound Dilantin to dissosciate from the active channel, a time dependent chaneel block exists. Because the fraction of the inactive channels is enhanced by membrane depolarization and repetive firing, the binding to the inactive state by Dilantin sodium can lead to voltage dependent, use-dependent as well as time dependent block of action potentials that are dependent on sodium.