Phenytoin dosage in ambulant epileptic patients.

Ambulant patients with recently diagnosed generalised or psychomotor seizure disorders or both were randomly assigned to two dosage regimens of phenytoin. Drug compliance was evaluated with subsequent blood phenytoin levels four to eight weeks after initial enrollment into the study. Although the two groups had similar mg-kg daily dosages of phenytoin, the mean blood levels were statistically different between the two groups, favoring the simplified dosage regimen. Once or twice a day dosage regimens of phenytoin had a beneficial effect on drug compliance when compared to more frequent regimens as measured by phenytoin blood levels.