What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate and phenytoin
Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate's FDA label of February 6, 2026 names phenytoin in its drug interactions section; the phenytoin labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate. The ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label: “Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate …”
Check it at the source: the ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA); the phenytoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 15, 2024, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.).
What does the ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label say about phenytoin?
Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate label, drug interactionsSome drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, bosentan, felbamate, griseofulvin, oxcarbazepine, rifampicin, topiramate, rifabutin, rufinamide, aprepitant, and products containing St. John’s wort.
Source: FDA drug label (Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, effective February 6, 2026 (SPL set 8b247e46-203e-4f5b-b5a7-cbd57341c735), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the phenytoin label say about ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate?
Phenytoin's label (effective October 15, 2024) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Phenytek), Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective October 15, 2024 (SPL set 0f94c791-8b07-4b41-927e-c9f28bec5f60), 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
| Ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate | Phenytoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne, Birth control | Seizures and epilepsy |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.115 per tablet 0.25-0.035 mg tablet | $0.145 per capsule 100 mg capsule |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
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