5, 5-Diphenylhydanytoin (phenytoin) is the most widely used anticonvulsant drug, but has many side effects. Although its chemical mode of action is unknown, phenytoin is believed to function primarily by interference with the transport of sodium ions across the neuronal membrane. Structure-activity and lipophilicity-activity studies suggest that the drug interacts with its receptor through hydrogen bonding to the N3-C4 amide bond, and an aromatic- ...
