Ataxia triggered by phenytoin: a clinical case report

Abstract

Phenytoin is a commonly prescribed, cost-effective medication for epilepsy treatment, but it requires careful monitoring to prevent adverse effects in patients undergoing long-term therapy. Common side effects of phenytoin include abnormal muscle movements, slurred speech, ataxia, coordination difficulties, rashes, hepatotoxicity, aplastic anemia, and pancytopenia. In this case, a 30-year-old male patient, with a history of epilepsy, presented with symptoms of headache, blurred vision, and swaying while walking, with a tendency to veer to the right. He had been on regular phenytoin therapy (100 mg twice daily) for 10 years. After discontinuing phenytoin, his symptoms resolved, highlighting the need for regular monitoring of patients on long-term phenytoin therapy to detect and manage potential adverse effects.