Control of epilepsy with a single daily dose of phenytoin sodium.

Fifty-three patients in an epileptic centre have been studied. All were receiving phenytoin and many were also receiving other antoconvulsant drugs. 2. Thirty-six patients took part in a three month cross over study. There was no significant change in the frequency of epileptic seizures or in the late morning serum concentration of phenytoin when the treatemtn was changed from two to three spaced doses of phenytoin sodium/day to a single dose at 12.00 hours. 3. Seventeen patients acted as a control group. They received phenytoin sodium as two or three spaced doses/day throughout the study. There was no significant change in the frequency of epileptic seizures or in the late morning serum concentration of phenytoin between the first and second three month periods of observation. 4. It is concluded that the total daily dose of phenytoin sodium may be given once daily without reduction of the anticonvulsant effect.