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.

Descriptor ID	D010672
MeSH Number(s)	D03.383.129.308.432.555.730
Concept/Terms	Phenytoin Phenytoin 5,5-Diphenylhydantoin Fenitoin 5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione Diphenylhydantoin Difenin Difenin Dihydan Dihydan Phenytoin Sodium Phenytoin Sodium Sodium Diphenylhydantoinate Diphenylhydantoinate, Sodium Epamin Epamin Epanutin Epanutin Hydantol Hydantol Antisacer Antisacer Dilantin Dilantin

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Phenytoin".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Phenytoin".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Phenytoin".