Drug interactions
Cortisone + Metyrapone
Severity: Moderate
Cortisone and Metyrapone: 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
Cortisone is converted to cortisol and directly suppresses ACTH. It confounds the metyrapone test, which relies on the pituitary response to lowered cortisol, and it counteracts the therapeutic cortisol-lowering goal of metyrapone.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cortisone and Metyrapone 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
Exogenous glucocorticoid activity and negative feedback on ACTH oppose the effect of metyrapone's 11-beta-hydroxylase inhibition and invalidate test results.
What to do
Avoid corticosteroids before and during diagnostic metyrapone testing. When metyrapone is used for block-and-replace therapy, give glucocorticoid replacement deliberately with cortisol and ACTH monitoring.
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 Cortisone and Metyrapone, 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 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Metyrapone
- Metyrapone + Pacritinib Major
- Budesonide + Metyrapone Moderate
- Cyproheptadine + Metyrapone Moderate
- Deflazacort + Metyrapone Moderate
- Desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol + Metyrapone Moderate
- Dexamethasone + Metyrapone Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cortisone with Metyrapone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cortisone and Metyrapone 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. Cortisone is converted to cortisol and directly suppresses ACTH. It confounds the metyrapone test, which relies on the pituitary response to lowered cortisol, and it counteracts the therapeutic cortisol-lowering goal of metyrapone.
How serious is the interaction between Cortisone and Metyrapone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid corticosteroids before and during diagnostic metyrapone testing. When metyrapone is used for block-and-replace therapy, give glucocorticoid replacement deliberately with cortisol and ACTH monitoring.
What other medicines interact with Metyrapone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Metyrapone with, for example, Pacritinib, Budesonide, Cyproheptadine. The full list is on the Metyrapone 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.
