Drug interactions
Carbamazepine + Etoposide
Severity: Moderate
Carbamazepine and Etoposide: 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
Carbamazepine may increase the clearance of etoposide and reduce its exposure, which could compromise antitumor efficacy. Enzyme-inducing antiepileptics have been associated with faster etoposide clearance.
What this interaction means in plain words
Carbamazepine and Etoposide 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.
Carbamazepine belongs to Central Nervous System; Etoposide belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Carbamazepine induces CYP3A4, which contributes to the metabolism of etoposide.
What to do
Where possible, switch to a non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic. If the combination is needed, monitor the response to chemotherapy and for relapse.
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 Carbamazepine and Etoposide, 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 Carbamazepine
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Delamanid Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Dienogest / estradiol valerate Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Doravirine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Elbasvir / grazoprevir Contraindicated
Other interactions of Etoposide
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Etoposide Contraindicated
- Etoposide + Pentostatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporine + Etoposide Major
- Cyclosporin + Etoposide Major
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Etoposide Major
- Etoposide + Fingolimod Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Carbamazepine with Etoposide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Carbamazepine and Etoposide 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. Carbamazepine may increase the clearance of etoposide and reduce its exposure, which could compromise antitumor efficacy. Enzyme-inducing antiepileptics have been associated with faster etoposide clearance.
How serious is the interaction between Carbamazepine and Etoposide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Where possible, switch to a non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic. If the combination is needed, monitor the response to chemotherapy and for relapse.
What other medicines interact with Carbamazepine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Carbamazepine with, for example, Artemether / lumefantrine, Cabotegravir, Delamanid. The full list is on the Carbamazepine 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.
