Drug interactions
Artemether / lumefantrine + Tolterodine
Severity: Moderate
Artemether / lumefantrine and Tolterodine: moderate 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
Lumefantrine inhibits CYP2D6 and artemether may induce CYP3A4, so tolterodine exposure may change in either direction. Tolterodine is mainly cleared by CYP2D6, with CYP3A4 as an alternative route, so the net effect is unpredictable but may raise levels of the active compound. Higher exposure could increase anticholinergic effects and QT prolongation, and artemether/lumefantrine also carries its own QT risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Artemether / lumefantrine and Tolterodine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Lumefantrine inhibits CYP2D6 while artemether may weakly induce CYP3A4, both affecting tolterodine metabolism.
What to do
Monitor for anticholinergic adverse effects and consider ECG monitoring if other QT-prolonging risk factors exist. Reduce the tolterodine dose if adverse effects appear.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Artemether / lumefantrine and Tolterodine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Tolterodine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Artemether / lumefantrine with Tolterodine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Artemether / lumefantrine and Tolterodine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Lumefantrine inhibits CYP2D6 and artemether may induce CYP3A4, so tolterodine exposure may change in either direction. Tolterodine is mainly cleared by CYP2D6, with CYP3A4 as an alternative route, so the net effect is unpredictable but may raise levels of the active compound. Higher exposure could increase anticholinergic effects and QT prolongation, and artemether/lumefantrine also carries its own QT risk.
How serious is the interaction between Artemether / lumefantrine and Tolterodine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for anticholinergic adverse effects and consider ECG monitoring if other QT-prolonging risk factors exist. Reduce the tolterodine dose if adverse effects appear.
What other medicines interact with Tolterodine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tolterodine with, for example, Clarithromycin, Clozapine, Cobicistat. The full list is on the Tolterodine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
