Drug interactions
Capecitabine + Procainamide
Severity: Moderate
Capecitabine and Procainamide: 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
Procainamide is a class IA antiarrhythmic that prolongs the QT interval and can cause torsades de pointes. Capecitabine may add to this effect, which increases the arrhythmia risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Capecitabine and Procainamide 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
Additive effects on cardiac repolarization.
What to do
Monitor ECG and keep potassium and magnesium within normal range. Consider an alternative antiarrhythmic if QT prolongation appears.
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 Capecitabine and Procainamide, 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 Capecitabine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Capecitabine with Procainamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Capecitabine and Procainamide 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. Procainamide is a class IA antiarrhythmic that prolongs the QT interval and can cause torsades de pointes. Capecitabine may add to this effect, which increases the arrhythmia risk.
How serious is the interaction between Capecitabine and Procainamide?
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 ECG and keep potassium and magnesium within normal range. Consider an alternative antiarrhythmic if QT prolongation appears.
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.
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.
