fluvastatin vs phenytoin

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

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Caution should be used when prescribing with fluvastatin ( 5.1 , 7.3 , 7.4 ) Glyburide: Monitor blood glucose levels when fluvastatin dose is changed ( 7 ) Phenytoin: Monitor plasma phenytoin levels when fluvastatin treatment is initiated or when the dosage is changed ( 7 ) Warfarin and coumarin derivates: Monitor prothrombin times when fluvastatin coadministration is initiated, discontinued, or the dosage changed ( 7 ) 7.1 Cyclosporine Cyclosporine coadministration increases fluvastatin exposure. 7.7 Phenytoin Concomitant administration of fluvastatin and phenytoin increased phenytoin...

Drug Class
fluvastatin HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
phenytoin Anticonvulsant (Hydantoin)
Type
fluvastatin Prescription
phenytoin Prescription
Summary
fluvastatin

Fluvastatin (Lescol) is a medicine that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood. It belongs to a group of drugs called statins.

phenytoin

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

What It Treats
fluvastatin

This medicine is used to lower high cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in adults and children (10-16 years old) with certain inherited cholesterol problems. It can also lower the risk of needing procedures to improve blood flow to the heart in adults with heart disease. Fluvastatin can also slow down the hardening of arteries in people with heart disease.

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
fluvastatin

Fluvastatin works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides while raising good cholesterol (HDL). By lowering cholesterol, it helps prevent heart disease and stroke.

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
fluvastatin
  • Headache
  • Upset stomach
  • Muscle pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
phenytoin

No common side effects listed.

FAERS Reports
fluvastatin
  • Myalgia 669
  • Diarrhoea 371
  • Dizziness 361
  • Dyspnoea 340
  • Nausea 337
phenytoin
  • Drug Interaction 1,547
  • Seizure 1,382
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 1,353
  • Convulsion 1,262
  • Status Epilepticus 791
Serious Warnings
fluvastatin

This medicine can sometimes cause muscle problems, including rhabdomyolysis (a serious muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney damage). Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. This medicine can also cause liver problems. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking fluvastatin and while you are taking it.

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
fluvastatin

You should not take fluvastatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This medicine can harm an unborn baby. If you are a woman who could become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking fluvastatin.

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

How to Read This fluvastatin vs phenytoin Comparison

fluvastatin is classified in the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) 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, fluvastatin has 2,078 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to fluvastatin can cause the levels of phenytoin in your blood to rise, which may lead to side effects.. 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 fluvastatin or phenytoin.

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