Skip to content

Drug interactions

Azithromycin + Cisapride

Severity: Contraindicated

Azithromycin and Cisapride: contraindicated 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

Both drugs can prolong the QT interval, and combined use increases the risk of torsades de pointes and sudden cardiac death. Cisapride labeling lists QT-prolonging drugs as contraindicated partners.

What this interaction means in plain words

Azithromycin and Cisapride are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.

Azithromycin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Cisapride belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Additive QT prolongation through cardiac potassium channel blockade.

What to do

Do not co-administer; choose a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic or stop cisapride. Correct electrolytes and obtain an ECG if exposure has occurred.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
  • If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
  • Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Azithromycin and Cisapride, 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 14 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Azithromycin with Cisapride?

MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Azithromycin and Cisapride are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Both drugs can prolong the QT interval, and combined use increases the risk of torsades de pointes and sudden cardiac death. Cisapride labeling lists QT-prolonging drugs as contraindicated partners.

How serious is the interaction between Azithromycin and Cisapride?

MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not co-administer; choose a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic or stop cisapride. Correct electrolytes and obtain an ECG if exposure has occurred.

What other medicines interact with Cisapride?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Cisapride with, for example, Apomorphine, Artemether, Ceritinib. The full list is on the Cisapride 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.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in