Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men and Phenytoin Sodium

• Generic Name: minoxidil topical
• Dosage Forms: solution
• Other Brand Names: Rogaine, Ronoxidil, Rogaine Extra Strength, Rogaine Women's, Rogaine Men's Extra Strength

Minoxidil applied to the scalp is used to stimulate hair growth in adult men and women with a certain type of baldness. The exact way that this medicine works is not known.

If hair growth is going to occur with the use of minoxidil, it usually occurs after the medicine has been used for several months and lasts only as long as the medicine continues to be used. Hair loss will begin again within a few months after minoxidil treatment is stopped.

In the U.S., this medicine is available without a prescription.

• Generic Name: phenytoin
• Dosage Forms: injection, solution
• Other Brand Names: Dilantin, Dilantin Infatabs, Phenytek, Phenytoin Sodium, Prompt

Management of generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures.

Management of partial seizures with complex symptomatology (psychomotor and temporal lobe seizures).

Not recommended for treatment of pure absence (petit mal) seizures since the drug may increase frequency of these seizures, but may be used in conjunction with other anticonvulsants when mixed seizure types are present.

Prevention and treatment of seizures occurring during and following neurosurgery.

Used IV for treatment of status epilepticus; however, use may be limited by its slow onset of action and need for slow administration.

Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam) are considered drugs of choice for initial treatment of status epilepticus; IV phenytoin (or fosphenytoin) may be used as a second-line agent if seizures continue.

Concurrent administration with an IV benzodiazepine or short-acting barbiturate will usually be necessary for rapid control of seizures.

Fosphenytoin appears to be better tolerated than phenytoin, and some experts state that fosphenytoin is preferred when both drugs are available.

Has been used IV for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, particularly ventricular arrhythmias, in patients who do not respond to conventional antiarrhythmic agents or cardioversion. However, current use as an antiarrhythmic agent is limited by the drug's narrow therapeutic window, multiple drug interactions, and adverse effect profile.

Has been used IV for treatment of arrhythmias caused by cardiac glycoside intoxication, especially in the presence of AV block, because the drug improves conduction through the AV node.