Drug interactions
Chlorothiazide + Gentamicin
Severity: Moderate
Chlorothiazide and Gentamicin: 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
Chlorothiazide causes urinary loss of potassium and magnesium, and gentamicin can add renal electrolyte wasting, so hypokalemia may be additive. Diuretic-induced volume depletion can also raise gentamicin nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chlorothiazide and Gentamicin 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.
Chlorothiazide belongs to Cardiovascular; Gentamicin belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Additive renal potassium and magnesium wasting, plus volume depletion reducing aminoglycoside clearance.
What to do
Monitor potassium, magnesium, renal function and gentamicin levels, and replace electrolytes as needed.
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 Chlorothiazide and Gentamicin, 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 Gentamicin
- Cidofovir + Gentamicin Contraindicated
- Adefovir + Gentamicin Major
- Amikacin + Gentamicin Major
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Gentamicin Major
- Amphotericin b deoxycholate + Gentamicin Major
- Amphotericin b + Gentamicin Major
Other interactions of Chlorothiazide
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chlorothiazide with Gentamicin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chlorothiazide and Gentamicin 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. Chlorothiazide causes urinary loss of potassium and magnesium, and gentamicin can add renal electrolyte wasting, so hypokalemia may be additive. Diuretic-induced volume depletion can also raise gentamicin nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity risk.
How serious is the interaction between Chlorothiazide and Gentamicin?
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 potassium, magnesium, renal function and gentamicin levels, and replace electrolytes as needed.
What other medicines interact with Gentamicin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Gentamicin with, for example, Cidofovir, Adefovir, Amikacin. The full list is on the Gentamicin 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.
