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What Is Dilantin?

Dilantin is a prescription antiseizure medicine containing phenytoin. Extended phenytoin sodium capsules treat tonic-clonic and psychomotor seizures and prevent or treat seizures during or after neurosurgery. Current Dilantin products also include chewable Infatabs and oral suspension, with formulation-specific dosing instructions.

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What Is Dilantin?

Dilantin is a prescription antiseizure medicine containing phenytoin. Extended phenytoin sodium capsules treat tonic-clonic and psychomotor seizures and prevent or treat seizures during or after neurosurgery. Current Dilantin products also include chewable Infatabs and oral suspension, with formulation-specific dosing instructions.

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How Does Dilantin Reduce Seizure Activity?

The precise therapeutic mechanism of phenytoin is not established. Its antiseizure activity is thought to involve voltage-dependent blockade of neuronal sodium channels, which reduces sustained high-frequency neuronal discharges. Serum phenytoin concentrations are sometimes checked during treatment due its narrow concentration range and nonlinear metabolism.

Which Seizures Are Treated With Dilantin?

Dilantin extended capsules are indicated for tonic-clonic seizures, psychomotor or temporal lobe seizures, and prevention or treatment of seizures occurring during or after neurosurgery. Phenytoin is not used for absence seizures and can worsen certain seizure types, so seizure classification matters before treatment.

How Are Dilantin Extended Capsules Dosed?

Adults who have not received prior treatment commonly start with one 100 mg extended capsule three times daily. A common maintenance schedule is 100 mg three to four times daily. Once seizure control is established on 300 mg daily in divided doses, a 300 mg once-daily extended-capsule regimen can be considered.

What Serious Risks Are Linked to Dilantin?

Serious risks include increased seizure frequency or status epilepticus after abrupt withdrawal, suicidal thoughts or behavior, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, DRESS, liver injury, blood-cell disorders, angioedema, and cardiac effects. Phenytoin also has numerous drug interactions, and serum concentrations can rise sharply with small dose changes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dilantin

What medicine is in Dilantin?

Dilantin contains phenytoin, an antiseizure medicine that acts mainly through voltage-dependent sodium channel blockade.

What seizures does Dilantin treat?

Current extended-capsule labeling includes tonic-clonic seizures, psychomotor seizures, and seizures associated with neurosurgery.

What is a common adult starting dose?

Adults without prior treatment commonly start with one 100 mg extended capsule three times daily.

Can Dilantin be stopped suddenly?

No. Abrupt withdrawal can increase seizure frequency and trigger status epilepticus.

References

DailyMed - DILANTIN (extended phenytoin sodium) capsule, extended release. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=db8c69b0-4697-433e-98c7-b0b2d2c52a83. Date Accessed September 25, 2026.

DailyMed - EXTENDED PHENYTOIN SODIUM capsule. https://www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a7bfb3aa-5226-4a48-8156-a9ecc4536fdf. Date Accessed September 25, 2026.

Phenytoin. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682022.html. Date Accessed September 25, 2026.

Phenytoin Sodium. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Phenytoin-Sodium. Date Accessed September 25, 2026.

Phenytoin. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551520/. Date Accessed September 25, 2026.