Diphenylhydantoin and Phenobarbital Toxicity

Abstract

Diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital often are tolerated less well in patients who have liver disease than in intact individuals, who can take the usual diphenylhydantoin doses of 4-6 mg/kg and phenobarbital 1-2 mg/kg without evidence of toxicity. The dose-related signs of toxicity such as nystagmus, ataxia, and mental changes may occur in patients with liver disease with 4 mg/kg or less of diphenylhydantoin and/or 2 mg/kg or less of phenobarbital daily. This has been commented upon by Roseman¹ and Sparberg,² among others, but no explanations have been offered. Several mechanisms might be involved in this manifestation. One explanation has been that cerebral metabolic derangement enhances the brain's susceptibility to pharmacologic agents given in ordinarily innocuous dosages.³ Second, the blood-brain barrier might be altered. Third, the apparent low tolerance to diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital might be related to impairment of the usual metabolic detoxification in the liver. This paper deals