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Title: Which to check - total or free phenytoin levels?

Category: Neurology

Keywords: phenytoin, dilantin, seizure, dilantin level, phenytoin level (PubMed Search)

Posted: 3/2/2011 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 7/21/2026)

  • Phenytoin has a wide volume of distribtuion and is 90% bound to protein. 
  • Only the unbound proportion is biologically active, and therefore, FREE levels of phenytoin should be checked to determine whether acute seizure activity is related to suboptimal levels or not. 
  • Given these properties, patients with the following conditions are more likely to become phenytoin toxic:  neonates and the elderly (due to poor metabolism and low protein production); uremia, nephrotic syndrome, pregnancy, malignancy, malnutrition (due to low potein levels).

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