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Drug interactions

Crizotinib + Erlotinib

Severity: Moderate

Crizotinib and Erlotinib: 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

Crizotinib inhibits CYP3A4 and may increase erlotinib exposure. This may worsen rash, diarrhea and other erlotinib adverse effects.

What this interaction means in plain words

Crizotinib and Erlotinib 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.

Crizotinib belongs to Oncology; Erlotinib belongs to Oncology.

Evidence level: Low

Why it happens

Crizotinib inhibits CYP3A4-mediated erlotinib metabolism.

What to do

Monitor for erlotinib toxicity such as severe rash, diarrhea and interstitial lung symptoms. Reduce the erlotinib dose if adverse effects become intolerable.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Crizotinib with Erlotinib?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Crizotinib and Erlotinib 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. Crizotinib inhibits CYP3A4 and may increase erlotinib exposure. This may worsen rash, diarrhea and other erlotinib adverse effects.

How serious is the interaction between Crizotinib and Erlotinib?

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 for erlotinib toxicity such as severe rash, diarrhea and interstitial lung symptoms. Reduce the erlotinib dose if adverse effects become intolerable.

What other medicines interact with Erlotinib?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Erlotinib with, for example, Amobarbital, Apalutamide, Carbamazepine. The full list is on the Erlotinib 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.

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