[Info] Flu vaccine and phenytoin

[travel bug]

This is just a heads up to those taking phenytoin and (maybe) Dilantin who plan to get a flu shot.

I just got my flu shot today at my Target pharmacy; the information sheet they give out is much more detailed than any I've seen before. It says that "additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking"...then it lists several medications including phenytoin. I'm not sure if they intended that to include Dilantin too or just the generic.

[Endless]

Interesting.... I wonder why dilantin and not other anti-epileptic drugs?

[travel bug]

I just looked up the other drugs listed on that information sheet on WEB-MD (I should have done that in the first place) and they are also generics, so I guess the hand out refers to both the generics and the brand names. FYI, those other drugs are: anticoagulants such as warfarin, corticosteroids such as prednisone, theophylline (for asthma), and medicine that may weaken the immune system. No other anti-epileptic drug's.

Maybe it has to do with how the drugs are processed; if I remember right, phenytoin is processed in the liver. Are any other anti-epileptic drug's processed that way?

[Endless]

Most anti-epileptic drugs are metabolized in the liver. There are a few that are metabolized in the kidneys, like gabapentin, topiramate, vigabatrin, oxcarbazepine, or levetiracetam.