Drug interactions
Cytarabine + Hydroxycarbamide
Severity: Moderate
Cytarabine and Hydroxycarbamide: 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
Both drugs suppress the bone marrow, and together they can deepen cytopenias. Hydroxyurea also modulates cytarabine metabolism and is sometimes used with it deliberately in leukemia, so the effect is predictable but needs monitoring.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cytarabine and Hydroxycarbamide 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.
Cytarabine belongs to Oncology; Hydroxycarbamide belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive myelosuppression; hydroxyurea depletes deoxynucleotide pools, which may enhance cytarabine activation.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts frequently and adjust doses to the degree of cytopenia. Provide supportive and infection-prevention measures as appropriate.
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?
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Other interactions of Cytarabine
Other interactions of Hydroxycarbamide
- Didanosine + Hydroxycarbamide Contraindicated
- Hydroxycarbamide + Stavudine Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydroxycarbamide Major
- Axicabtagene ciloleucel + Hydroxycarbamide Major
- Bcg intravesical live + Hydroxycarbamide Major
- Bcg vaccine live + Hydroxycarbamide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cytarabine with Hydroxycarbamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cytarabine and Hydroxycarbamide 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. Both drugs suppress the bone marrow, and together they can deepen cytopenias. Hydroxyurea also modulates cytarabine metabolism and is sometimes used with it deliberately in leukemia, so the effect is predictable but needs monitoring.
How serious is the interaction between Cytarabine and Hydroxycarbamide?
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 complete blood counts frequently and adjust doses to the degree of cytopenia. Provide supportive and infection-prevention measures as appropriate.
What other medicines interact with Cytarabine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Cytarabine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Axicabtagene ciloleucel, Belatacept. The full list is on the Cytarabine page.
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