Drug interactions
Benazepril + Mercaptopurine
Severity: Moderate
Benazepril and Mercaptopurine: 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
ACE inhibitors have been associated with leukopenia or neutropenia, and combining them with a myelosuppressive drug like mercaptopurine may increase the risk of low blood counts. Cases are mostly reported with azathioprine in renal impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Benazepril and Mercaptopurine 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.
Benazepril belongs to Cardiovascular; Mercaptopurine belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive bone marrow suppression; ACE inhibitor-related neutropenia is poorly understood.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts regularly, particularly in patients with renal impairment, and reduce the mercaptopurine dose or stop the ACE inhibitor if neutropenia develops.
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?
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Other interactions of Mercaptopurine
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Febuxostat + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Mercaptopurine + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
Other interactions of Benazepril
- Aliskiren + Benazepril Contraindicated
- Benazepril + Sacubitril / valsartan Contraindicated
- Benazepril + Sacubitril-valsartan Contraindicated
- Amifostine + Benazepril Major
- Amiloride + Benazepril Major
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Benazepril Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Benazepril with Mercaptopurine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Benazepril and Mercaptopurine 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. ACE inhibitors have been associated with leukopenia or neutropenia, and combining them with a myelosuppressive drug like mercaptopurine may increase the risk of low blood counts. Cases are mostly reported with azathioprine in renal impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Benazepril and Mercaptopurine?
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 complete blood counts regularly, particularly in patients with renal impairment, and reduce the mercaptopurine dose or stop the ACE inhibitor if neutropenia develops.
What other medicines interact with Mercaptopurine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mercaptopurine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Azathioprine, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Mercaptopurine page.
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