Phenytoin in pregnancy
During pregnancy and lactation caution is advised when using Phenytoin. It should only be used after careful consultation with a physician and an exact risk-benefit analysis. Taking Phenytoin may increase the risk of developing malformations.
The effectiveness of certain contraceptives may be limited by Phenytoin. The risk of malformations, such as neural tube defects, developmental delays or heart malformations may be increased. If the drug is indispensable, treatment with the lowest effective dose is administered to suppress the seizures.
This is especially important between the 20th and 40th day of pregnancy. The simultaneous intake of other drugs that are effective against seizures should be avoided, as they further increase the risk of malformations. With all the possible side effects, however, it is strongly discouraged to stop the therapy with Phenytoin arbitrarily during pregnancy.
This can lead to a rapid reduction in the dose of Phenytoin in the blood, which can cause seizures.However, these seizures can have fatal consequences for mother and child. It is therefore very important to monitor the dose of phenytoin in the mother’s blood plasma during pregnancy and in the puerperium. After pregnancy, the phenytoin level in the blood increases, so that an adjustment of the dose may be necessary.
In order to prevent bleeding in the unborn child, pregnant women who take Phenytoin should take vitamin K in the last weeks of pregnancy. This is done after consultation with the doctor in charge. After the birth, the newborn baby should also receive vitamin K as a preventive measure to avoid bleeding.
