Does Felbamate Interact with Phenobarbital?
CDI records a moderate classification for Felbamate and Phenobarbital. The stored summary is: Felbamate increases steady-state phenobarbital plasma concentrations while decreasing felbamate concentrations; phenobarbital dosing adjustment may be necessary. The mechanism involves felbamate inhibits phenobarbital 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
- Moderate
- Felbamate Class
- Anti-epileptic Agent
- Management
- Monitor for effects
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Felbamate inhibits phenobarbital metabolism
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Felbamate and your doctor is considering prescribing Phenobarbital (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 whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider