Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH is the German producer of products, mostly CNS drugs (one of the leading German antiepileptic generics mark) such as Orfiril (sodium valproate film-coated tablets, gastroresistent tablets, sustained release tablets and extended-release granulate), Luminal (phenobarbital tablets and sodium phenobarbital injections), Lamotrigin (lamotrigine) and Timonil (carbamazepine).
In 1938, outside scientists including H. Houston Merritt and Tracy Putnam discovered phenytoin's usefulness for controlling seizures, without the sedative effects associated with phenobarbital.