Drug interactions
Cladribine + Tofacitinib
Severity: Contraindicated
Cladribine and Tofacitinib: contraindicated 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
Cladribine causes prolonged lymphopenia, and tofacitinib adds immunosuppression, markedly increasing the risk of serious infection. Oral cladribine labeling advises against combination with immunosuppressive therapies.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cladribine and Tofacitinib are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Cladribine belongs to Oncology; Tofacitinib belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive lymphocyte depletion and immunosuppression.
What to do
Do not combine; avoid tofacitinib during and after cladribine courses while lymphopenia persists. Select alternative therapy and monitor lymphocyte counts.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Tofacitinib
- Baricitinib + Tofacitinib Contraindicated
- Tofacitinib + Upadacitinib Contraindicated
- Abatacept + Tofacitinib Major
- Anti-thymocyte + Tofacitinib Major
- Antithymocyte globulin equine + Tofacitinib Major
- Antithymocyte globulin rabbit + Tofacitinib Major
Other interactions of Cladribine
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Cladribine Contraindicated
- Cladribine + Siponimod Contraindicated
- Axicabtagene ciloleucel + Cladribine Major
- Belatacept + Cladribine Major
- Brexucabtagene autoleucel + Cladribine Major
- Cholera vaccine + Cladribine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cladribine with Tofacitinib?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Cladribine and Tofacitinib are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Cladribine causes prolonged lymphopenia, and tofacitinib adds immunosuppression, markedly increasing the risk of serious infection. Oral cladribine labeling advises against combination with immunosuppressive therapies.
How serious is the interaction between Cladribine and Tofacitinib?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not combine; avoid tofacitinib during and after cladribine courses while lymphopenia persists. Select alternative therapy and monitor lymphocyte counts.
What other medicines interact with Tofacitinib?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tofacitinib with, for example, Baricitinib, Upadacitinib, Abatacept. The full list is on the Tofacitinib page.
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