A tool designed for healthcare professionals, typically implemented as software or a web application, assists in determining individualized dosing regimens for the anticonvulsant medication phenytoin. This involves considering patient-specific factors like weight, age, kidney function, and concurrent medications to predict serum concentrations and optimize therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. An example might involve inputting patient data and desired therapeutic range, with the tool outputting a recommended starting dose and subsequent adjustments.
Precise dose determination is crucial for this particular medication due to its narrow therapeutic index, meaning the effective dose is close to the toxic dose. Individualized dosing helps prevent subtherapeutic treatment, which can lead to seizures, and toxic levels, which can cause serious side effects. The evolution of such tools reflects advancements in pharmacokinetics and personalized medicine, moving from generalized dosing tables to more sophisticated, patient-centric approaches.
