William de Souza Delfim
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Nayara Christina de Lima Curti
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Marília Pires de Souza e Silva
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Lorena Dias Araújo
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Indianara Keila Pastorio
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Introduction: Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant used routinely for about eight decades. However, depending on the dose and plasma concentration, its use may be associated with side effects due to toxicity, such as ataxic syndrome. Case report: We attended a 37-year-old patient, epileptic since childhood, who had been using Divalproate Sodium 250mg 8 / 8h, Phenobarbital 150mg once a day and Phenytoin 100mg 8/8 for a long time. He denied smoking and drinking. He was admitted due to acute rotational vertigo, nausea, motor incoordination and impaired speech and gait, progressing for 7 days. Neurological examination revealed drunken dysarthria, pendular patellar reflexes, signs of axial and appendicular incoordination and ataxic gait. Cranial nerves: there was decomposition of the eye movement and hypometric saccades to the vertical upward look, horizontal nystagmus with alternating phases to the extreme looks. Laboratory exams, cranial tomography with and without contrast, brain magnetic resonance with gadolinium): within the normal range. Given the above, our diagnostic hypothesis was Phenytoin Poisoning. After gradually replacing it, there was a progressive improvement in the neurological condition. His serum level was not determined due to the unavailability of this test in our service. Conclusion: In view of its routine use, excluding other etiologies, this diagnosis should always be remembered.