Drug interactions
Atracurium + Phenytoin
Severity: Minor
Atracurium and Phenytoin: minor interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Chronic phenytoin therapy can reduce the effect and shorten the duration of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers. Patients may recover faster and need higher or more frequent atracurium dosing.
What this interaction means in plain words
Atracurium and Phenytoin have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Atracurium belongs to Musculoskeletal; Phenytoin belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Chronic anticonvulsant exposure is thought to cause resistance via receptor upregulation and possibly altered drug disposition.
What to do
Monitor neuromuscular blockade with train-of-four and increase atracurium dose or infusion rate as needed.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
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Other interactions of Atracurium
Other interactions of Phenytoin
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Phenytoin Contraindicated
- Bictegravir + Phenytoin Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Phenytoin Contraindicated
- Doravirine + Phenytoin Contraindicated
- Elbasvir / grazoprevir + Phenytoin Contraindicated
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Phenytoin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Atracurium with Phenytoin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Atracurium and Phenytoin have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Chronic phenytoin therapy can reduce the effect and shorten the duration of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers. Patients may recover faster and need higher or more frequent atracurium dosing.
How serious is the interaction between Atracurium and Phenytoin?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor neuromuscular blockade with train-of-four and increase atracurium dose or infusion rate as needed.
What other medicines interact with Atracurium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Atracurium with, for example, Amikacin, Bacitracin-neomycin-polymyxin, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen. The full list is on the Atracurium page.
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