Fosphenytoin Sodium, Injection FOS-fen-ih-toyn SOH-dee-um

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiseizure

Generic and brand names: fosphenytoin sodium, injection; Cerebyx

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection for short-term prevention and control of seizures.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a blood disorder
• diabetes
• heart disease or an irregular heartbeat
• liver or kidney disease
• low blood pressure
• lupus
• lymphoma
• porphyria (nerve pain or sensitivity to sunlight)
• problems with alcohol abuse
• thyroid disease

If you are of Asian ancestry, you may be at high risk of a serious skin reaction. You may need a blood test before you start taking the medicine. Talk with your provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

Injections will be given by your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Antiseizure medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or increased thoughts of suicide.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine can make you drowsy or dizzy. It can also affect your coordination and reflexes. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and know how this medicine affects you.

Alcohol can affect antiseizure medicines. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider): Abnormal heartbeat (too fast or too slow); fever; sore throat; rash; yellowing of your eyes and skin; dark urine; numbness or tingling; unusual bleeding or bruising; pain, swelling, or discoloration in the hands or arms; blurred vision; problems with balance or walking; slurred speech.

Other: Itching, dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, change in sense of taste, ringing in ears, headache, constipation, tremors.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• antibiotics such as chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Monodox, Vibramycin), isoniazid, rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), and rifapentine (Priftin)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, bupropion (Wellbutrin), doxepin, duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox CR), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, and venlafaxine (Effexor)
• anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), and stavudine (Zerit)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), ethosuximide (Zarontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), methsuximide (Celontin), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), primidone (Mysoline), valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene), and zonisamide (Zonegran),
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan), and triazolam (Halcion),
• birth control pills, patches, or injections and hormones such conjugated estrogen (Premarin, Premphase, Prempro), estradiol (Estrace), esterified estrogen (Estratab, Menest), estropipate (Ogen), and estrogen patches (Estraderm, Vivelle, Climara)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone, and prednisolone
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and tolbutamide
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• dopamine
• fluorouracil (Carac, Efudex, Fluoroplex, Adrucil)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), digoxin (Lanoxin), felodipine, nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), quinidine, and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin),
• heartburn medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
• natural remedies such as Co-Q10, evening primrose, garlic, gotu kola, kava, St. John's wort, and valerian
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, thioridazine, and perphenazine
• reserpine
• salicylates such as aspirin
• sulfonamides such as sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra)
• theophylline
• warfarin (Coumadin)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.