Drug interactions
Capecitabine + Deferiprone
Severity: Major
Capecitabine and Deferiprone: major 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
Capecitabine, a fluorouracil prodrug, can cause myelosuppression, and deferiprone can cause agranulocytosis. Their combination increases the risk of severe neutropenia and infection.
What this interaction means in plain words
Capecitabine and Deferiprone can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Capecitabine belongs to Oncology; Deferiprone belongs to Miscellaneous.
Why it happens
Additive myelosuppressive effects on neutrophils.
What to do
Avoid the combination when an alternative exists. Otherwise monitor absolute neutrophil count more often and hold deferiprone if neutropenia occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Capecitabine
Other interactions of Deferiprone
- Clozapine + Deferiprone Contraindicated
- Abemaciclib + Deferiprone Major
- Acalabrutinib + Deferiprone Major
- Ado-trastuzumab emtansine + Deferiprone Major
- Ado-trastuzumab + Deferiprone Major
- Aldesleukin + Deferiprone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Capecitabine with Deferiprone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Capecitabine and Deferiprone can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Capecitabine, a fluorouracil prodrug, can cause myelosuppression, and deferiprone can cause agranulocytosis. Their combination increases the risk of severe neutropenia and infection.
How serious is the interaction between Capecitabine and Deferiprone?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination when an alternative exists. Otherwise monitor absolute neutrophil count more often and hold deferiprone if neutropenia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Capecitabine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Capecitabine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Arsenic trioxide, Axicabtagene ciloleucel. The full list is on the Capecitabine page.
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