Final answer:
Dilantin can cause serious hematologic side effects such as agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia, necessitating frequent CBC monitoring to detect changes in blood cell production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The adverse side effects of Dilantin can range from common issues such as dizziness, fever, chills, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), nausea, vomiting, constipation, and fatigue, to more severe conditions including jaundice, rash, mucosal hemorrhaging, seizures, shock, and even death. Two serious hematologic effects of Dilantin are agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia; both these conditions involve significant damage to the bone marrow leading to decreased production of blood cells, including white blood cells, which may trigger an increased risk of infections. As a result, patients on Dilantin require frequent Complete Blood Counts (CBCs) to monitor for these potentially life-threatening side effects.