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Fosphenytoin

Status epilepticus, Seizure prophylaxis

Indications

  • Status epilepticus
  • Seizure prophylaxis

Adult dosing

  • status epilepticus: dose: 20; unit: mg PE/kg; route: IV at max 150mg PE/min; weightBased: true; maxDose: 1500; maxDoseAbsolute: true

Pediatric dosing

  • status epilepticus: dose: 20; unit: mg PE/kg; route: IV at max 150mg PE/min; weightBased: true; maxDose: 1500; maxDoseAbsolute: true

Contraindications

  • Sinus bradycardia, sinoatrial block, second/third-degree AV block
  • Adams-Stokes syndrome

Clinical pearls

  • Dose expressed in PE (phenytoin equivalents) — not the same as phenytoin mg
  • Monitor for hypotension and cardiac arrhythmia during and 30 min after infusion
  • Requires continuous cardiac monitoring and BP checks q5min during infusion
  • Purple glove syndrome less common than with phenytoin but still possible

Source and review

  • AES Guidelines 2016; Neurocritical Care Society. Last reviewed: 2024-11-01