Drug interactions
Cytarabine + Olaparib
Severity: Moderate
Cytarabine and Olaparib: 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 cause myelosuppression, and combining them can deepen and prolong anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. This raises the risk of infection, bleeding and treatment delays.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cytarabine and Olaparib 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; Olaparib belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive bone marrow toxicity: cytarabine is a DNA-synthesis-inhibiting antimetabolite and olaparib is a PARP inhibitor that impairs DNA repair.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts frequently and adjust doses or interrupt olaparib for significant cytopenias. Provide supportive care 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 Cytarabine and Olaparib, 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 Cytarabine
Other interactions of Olaparib
- Amiodarone + Olaparib Major
- Amobarbital + Olaparib Major
- Apalutamide + Olaparib Major
- Aprepitant + Olaparib Major
- Azathioprine + Olaparib Major
- Carbamazepine + Olaparib Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cytarabine with Olaparib?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cytarabine and Olaparib 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 cause myelosuppression, and combining them can deepen and prolong anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. This raises the risk of infection, bleeding and treatment delays.
How serious is the interaction between Cytarabine and Olaparib?
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 or interrupt olaparib for significant cytopenias. Provide supportive care as needed.
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.
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.
