Drug interactions
Ampicillin-sulbactam + Deflazacort
Severity: Minor
Ampicillin-sulbactam and Deflazacort: minor interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Corticosteroids such as deflazacort promote potassium loss, and high-dose penicillin therapy can also cause hypokalemia through delivery of non-reabsorbable anions to the distal tubule. Together they may lower serum potassium, which matters most in patients on high doses or with other risk factors.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ampicillin-sulbactam and Deflazacort have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Ampicillin-sulbactam belongs to Anti Bacterial; Deflazacort belongs to Miscellaneous.
Why it happens
Additive renal potassium wasting from mineralocorticoid effect of the corticosteroid and non-reabsorbable anion effect of the penicillin.
What to do
Monitor serum potassium during prolonged or high-dose co-therapy and replace potassium as needed.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
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Other interactions of Ampicillin-sulbactam
Other interactions of Deflazacort
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Deflazacort Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Deflazacort Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ampicillin-sulbactam with Deflazacort?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Ampicillin-sulbactam and Deflazacort have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Corticosteroids such as deflazacort promote potassium loss, and high-dose penicillin therapy can also cause hypokalemia through delivery of non-reabsorbable anions to the distal tubule. Together they may lower serum potassium, which matters most in patients on high doses or with other risk factors.
How serious is the interaction between Ampicillin-sulbactam and Deflazacort?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor serum potassium during prolonged or high-dose co-therapy and replace potassium as needed.
What other medicines interact with Ampicillin-sulbactam?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ampicillin-sulbactam with, for example, Methotrexate, Allopurinol, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Ampicillin-sulbactam page.
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