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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Remedy For Severe Muscle Pain And Aches While On Phenytoin

my husband has to take Phenytoin ex 100 mg three times a day. he is experiencing severe muscle pain and aches. he has started bruising and cannt figure out exactly why. he does drink but all these symptoms have just started in the last few days. he has been on the meds for a little over two years now. is it possible that his levels could be too high?
Thu, 5 Nov 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi

Phenytoin is very less likely to cause muscle pain and aches even with high doses. The drug can cause swelling of the gums in the mouth which can bleed easily but as such is not known to cause bleeding elsewhere. So where exactly is the bruise that you see in him? This can be due to an overdose. If possible, consider doing a blood levels of phenytoin to check if the the levels of the drug in the body are in the normal therapeutic range.

Phenytoin is also a drug that is not supposed to be changed with different brands for the amount of medicine that the body gets is different with different brands (called bioavailability). Stick to one brand of the medicine.

Do not stop the medicine abruptly to check if it is the cause of the ache for withdrawal of the drug suddenly can itself trigger fits.

If the levels are high, your doctor may consider replacing the drug in a phased manner.
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Suggest Remedy For Severe Muscle Pain And Aches While On Phenytoin

Hi Phenytoin is very less likely to cause muscle pain and aches even with high doses. The drug can cause swelling of the gums in the mouth which can bleed easily but as such is not known to cause bleeding elsewhere. So where exactly is the bruise that you see in him? This can be due to an overdose. If possible, consider doing a blood levels of phenytoin to check if the the levels of the drug in the body are in the normal therapeutic range. Phenytoin is also a drug that is not supposed to be changed with different brands for the amount of medicine that the body gets is different with different brands (called bioavailability). Stick to one brand of the medicine. Do not stop the medicine abruptly to check if it is the cause of the ache for withdrawal of the drug suddenly can itself trigger fits. If the levels are high, your doctor may consider replacing the drug in a phased manner.