albendazole vs phenytoin

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Side-by-side comparison of albendazole and phenytoin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Phenytoin when given with the combination of fosamprenavir and ritonavir may increase the concentration of amprenavir Calcium channel blockers Nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil Other Albendazole (decreases active metabolite), chlorpropamide, clozapine, cyclosporine, digoxin, disopyramide, folic acid, methadone, mexiletine, praziquantel, quetiapine a The effect of phenytoin on phenobarbital, valproic acid and sodium valproate serum levels is unpredictable 7.3 Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions Care should be taken when using immunoanalytical methods to measure serum phenytoin...

Drug Class
albendazole Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole)
phenytoin Anticonvulsant (Hydantoin)
Type
albendazole Prescription
phenytoin Prescription
Summary
albendazole

Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites. It is used to treat infections caused by tapeworms.

phenytoin

Phenytoin injection is used to treat certain types of seizures. It can also prevent seizures during or after neurosurgery.

What It Treats
albendazole

Albendazole treats infections caused by tapeworms. It is used for neurocysticercosis, which is caused by pork tapeworm larvae in the brain. It also treats hydatid disease, caused by dog tapeworm larvae in the liver, lungs, and abdomen.

phenytoin

This medicine treats generalized tonic-clonic status epilepticus, a type of prolonged seizure. It also helps prevent and treat seizures that may happen during or after brain surgery. Sometimes, it can be used for a short time instead of the oral form of phenytoin when you cannot take the medicine by mouth.

How It Works
albendazole

Albendazole stops the tapeworms from growing and multiplying. It does this by blocking the worm's ability to use sugar (glucose). This eventually kills the parasite.

phenytoin

Phenytoin works by slowing down the signals in the brain that cause seizures. It stabilizes nerve cell membranes, reducing excessive electrical activity. This helps to prevent seizures from starting or spreading.

Common Side Effects
albendazole
  • Abnormal liver function tests
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Reversible hair loss
phenytoin

No common side effects listed.

FAERS Reports
albendazole
  • Pyrexia 236
  • Headache 222
  • Condition Aggravated 213
  • Fatigue 167
  • Weight Decreased 166
phenytoin
  • Drug Interaction 1,547
  • Seizure 1,382
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 1,353
  • Convulsion 1,262
  • Status Epilepticus 791
Serious Warnings
albendazole

Albendazole can cause bone marrow suppression, which can be fatal. Your doctor will check your blood counts before and during treatment. If your blood counts drop too low, you may need to stop taking albendazole. Albendazole can also harm an unborn baby, so women who can get pregnant should use birth control while taking it. If you are being treated for neurocysticercosis, you may experience seizures or other neurological problems. Your doctor may give you steroids and anti-seizure medicine to prevent these problems.

phenytoin

This medicine can cause serious heart problems if given too quickly. The injection rate should not be faster than 50 mg per minute for adults, and 1 to 3 mg/kg/min (or 50 mg per minute, whichever is slower) for children. Your heart will be monitored closely during and after the injection.

Pregnancy
albendazole

Albendazole can harm an unborn baby. Women who can get pregnant should use effective birth control while taking albendazole and for one month after stopping the medicine. If you become pregnant while taking albendazole, tell your doctor right away.

phenytoin

Taking phenytoin during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare albendazole with

How to Read This albendazole vs phenytoin Comparison

albendazole is classified in the Antiparasitic (Benzimidazole) drug class, while phenytoin sits within the Anticonvulsant (Hydantoin) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, albendazole has 1,004 submissions while phenytoin has 6,335. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to phenytoin causes your body to process albendazole faster, which reduces the amount of the active medicine available to fight infection.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for albendazole or phenytoin.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.