A patient is to begin taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizures. The patient tells the nurse that she is taking oral contraceptives. What will the nurse tell the patient?

A. The patient should not stop taking oral contraceptives abruptly, as this could result in unintended pregnancy. Stopping the contraceptive without planning an alternative is unsafe. B. While phenytoin is teratogenic and can cause birth defects, simply staying on oral contraceptives does not fully prevent risk of pregnancy. This statement does not address the drug interaction between phenytoin and oral contraceptives. C. Phenytoin induces hepatic enzymes, which can increase the metabolism of oral contraceptives, reducing their effectiveness. The nurse should advise the patient to consider an alternative or additional form of contraception, such as barrier methods, while taking phenytoin to prevent unintended pregnancy. Patient education should include consulting a provider for safe and effective contraception options. D. Increasing the dose of phenytoin is not a solution to the interaction. The issue is the reduced effectiveness of the oral contraceptive, not the efficacy of phenytoin. Dose adjustments are based on seizure control and serum drug levels, not contraceptive use.