The use of phenytoin in neurotic disorders treated in general practice

Forty-one patients seen in general practice with neurotic symptoms who failed to respond to conventional psychotropic medication were placed on a regimen of phenytoin. The modal dosage was 50 mg 3-times daily and treatment ranged between 6 to 19 weeks. The results, assessed on a 30-item symptom checklist, indicated that 35 (85%) of the 41 patients improved, 32 (78%) to a statistically significant degree. Few side-effects were reported and occurred in only 6 patients on a higher dosage of 200 mg per day. It is suggested the phenytoin is a drug with therapeutic potential in long-standing neurotic conditions.