Oral phenytoin loading in adults: Rapid achievement of therapeutic plasma levels

Kenneth E. Record, Robert P. Rapp, A. Byron Young, Harry B. Kostenbauder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oral loading doses of phenytoin were estimated from a simplified pharmacokinetic model. Twenty patients were administered a calculated average dose of 19.1 mg per kilogram of phenytoin divided into two to four increments given over 3 to 21 hours (10.55 ± 4.74, mean ± SD). Plasma samples drawn 2 to 22 hours (10.75 ± 4.32, mean ± SD) after completion of the loading dose resulted in therapeutic levels ranging from 8.1 to 18.0 μg per milliliter (11.42–11.37 ± 2.41, mean ± SD). Thus, this regimen in which no increment of the loading dose exceeds 600 mg is sufficient to achieve and maintain therapeutic plasma concentrations 18 to 24 hours after initiation of the loading dose.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)268-270
Number of pages3
JournalAnnals of Neurology
Volume5
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1979

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Oral phenytoin loading in adults: Rapid achievement of therapeutic plasma levels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this