What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Deferasirox and phenobarbital
Deferasirox's FDA label of January 28, 2026 names phenobarbital in its drug interactions section; the phenobarbital labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name deferasirox. The deferasirox label: “The concomitant use of Exjade with potent UGT inducers may result in a decrease in Exjade efficacy due to a possible decrease in deferasirox concentration.”
Check it at the source: the deferasirox FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation); the phenobarbital FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 27, 2026).
What does the deferasirox label say about phenobarbital?
Deferasirox label, drug interactionsThe concomitant use of Exjade with potent UGT inducers (e.g., rifampicin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, ritonavir) may result in a decrease in Exjade efficacy due to a possible decrease in deferasirox concentration.
Source: FDA drug label (Jadenu, NDA206910), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, effective December 11, 2025 (SPL set fee89140-fff1-4443-9f42-24ac004fcda1), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Exjade), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, effective January 28, 2026 (SPL set 3495a70c-870c-4968-940e-8baea152cf85), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the phenobarbital label say about deferasirox?
Phenobarbital's label (effective August 27, 2026) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name deferasirox in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Phenobarbital), Chartwell RX, LLC, effective August 27, 2026 (SPL set 74428144-fb24-40a5-a670-3b876e2d116c), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Deferasirox | Phenobarbital | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | Seizures and epilepsy |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.25 per tablet 360 mg tablet | $0.213 per tablet 100 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once