Skip to content

Drug interactions

Phenytoin + Rimegepant

Severity: Moderate

Phenytoin and Rimegepant: moderate 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

Phenytoin may markedly reduce rimegepant exposure and thus weaken its effect on migraine. Rimegepant labeling recommends avoiding strong or moderate CYP3A inducers.

What this interaction means in plain words

Phenytoin and Rimegepant can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.

Phenytoin belongs to Central Nervous System; Rimegepant belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Phenytoin induces CYP3A4, increasing the metabolism of rimegepant.

What to do

Avoid the combination where possible and use a different migraine therapy or a non-inducing antiseizure drug. If used together, watch for loss of migraine efficacy.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Should I take them at different times of day?
  • Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
  • Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Phenytoin and Rimegepant, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.

  • Full clinical management advice
  • Additional notes
  • Evidence detail
  • Interaction checker for a whole prescription

Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Phenytoin with Rimegepant?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Phenytoin and Rimegepant can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Phenytoin may markedly reduce rimegepant exposure and thus weaken its effect on migraine. Rimegepant labeling recommends avoiding strong or moderate CYP3A inducers.

How serious is the interaction between Phenytoin and Rimegepant?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination where possible and use a different migraine therapy or a non-inducing antiseizure drug. If used together, watch for loss of migraine efficacy.

What other medicines interact with Phenytoin?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Phenytoin with, for example, Artemether / lumefantrine, Bictegravir, Cabotegravir. The full list is on the Phenytoin page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in