Does Disulfiram Interact with Phenytoin?
CDI records a major classification for Disulfiram and Phenytoin. The stored summary is: Concomitant administration can lead to phenytoin intoxication due to decreased metabolism. Baseline and ongoing serum level monitoring required with possible dosage adjustment. The mechanism involves disulfiram decreases the rate of phenytoin metabolism. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Major
- Disulfiram Class
- Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor
- Phenytoin Class
- Anti-epileptic Agent
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Disulfiram decreases the rate of phenytoin metabolism
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Disulfiram and your doctor is considering prescribing Phenytoin (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider