Phenytoin sodium and magnesium sulphate in the management of eclampsia.

Twenty-two patients with eclampsia were randomly allocated to receive either intravenous phenytoin sodium or intravenous magnesium sulphate. The groups were comparable. No side-effects occurred and therapeutic levels were obtained in both groups. While none of the 11 patients managed with magnesium sulphate had further convulsions, four of the 11 treated with phenytoin sodium did and were subsequently effectively treated with magnesium sulphate. These results suggest that phenytoin sodium is not as effective an anticonvulsant in eclampsia as is magnesium sulphate.