• Brand Names: U.S.: Cerebyx®
• Brand Names: Canada: Cerebyx®
• Pharmacologic Category: Anticonvulsant, Hydantoin

• It is used to stop or control seizures.
• Fosphenytoin calms the brain.

How to take

• It is given as a shot into a vein or into the fatty part of the skin.

Missed Dose

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

Storage

• This drug will be given to you in a hospital or doctor's office. You will not store it at home.

Warnings

• Unsafe side effects may happen. This drug cannot be taken while you are taking some other drugs. Check all the drugs you are taking with your doctor.

Avoid

• If you have an allergy to fosphenytoin, phenytoin, or any other part of this drug.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs you had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.

Precautions

• Wear disease medical alert ID (identification).
• If you are 65 or older, use this drug with care. You could have more side effects.
• Follow laws about driving with a seizure problem.
• If you have been taking this drug for many weeks, talk with your doctor before stopping. You may want to slowly stop this drug.
• Check all drugs you are taking with your doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• You may not be alert. Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions until you see how this drug affects you.
• Avoid beer, wine, mixed drinks, or other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.
• Use birth control that you can trust to stop pregnancy while taking this drug.
• Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work to stop pregnancy. Use some other kind of birth control while taking this drug.

Side Effects

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred eyesight, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how this drug affects you. Confusion, being tired, mood changes, or slurred speech may also happen.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over a few minutes when sitting or lying down. Be careful climbing.
• Upset stomach or throwing up. Many small meals, good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Hard stools (constipation). Drinking more liquids, working out, or adding fiber to your diet may help. Talk with your doctor about a stool softener or laxative.

Contact a healthcare provider

• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• Signs of a very bad reaction to the drug. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Big change in balance.
• Change in thinking clearly and with logic.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• If seizures are worse or not the same after starting this drug.
• Very bad skin irritation.
• Any rash.
• Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse.

General Statements

• If you have a very bad allergy, wear an allergy ID at all times.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most drugs may be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. If in the U.S., you may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or if in Canada, you may also call Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.

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