Ingestion of Large Doses of Dilantin Sodium

Merritt and Putnam 1 have recorded the toxic manifestations that may be associated with the therapeutic use of the anticonvulsant drug dilantin sodium (sodium salt of diphenylhydantoin). The untoward symptoms which might be attributed to the effect of the drug on the nervous system are blurring of vision, diplopia, nausea, dizziness, ataxia and tremor. These symptoms occur in about 15 per cent of patients in the earlier weeks of treatment and usually subside during later treatment. Reactions of the skin and gums have also occurred. We have observed a child afflicted with recurrent attacks of status epilepticus in whom agranulocytic angina developed after the use of 149¼ grains (12.7 Gm.) of dilantin sodium over a period of sixty-seven days. There was no other discernible cause for the blood dyscrasia in this instance, which cleared promptly on withdrawal of the drug and the institution of proper therapy. This note is concerned