Drug interactions
Deflazacort + Pirbuterol
Severity: Moderate
Deflazacort and Pirbuterol: 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 a beta-2 agonist and a systemic corticosteroid can lower serum potassium. Used together, especially with repeated pirbuterol dosing, they may cause additive hypokalemia and increase arrhythmia risk in vulnerable patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Deflazacort and Pirbuterol 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
Beta-2 stimulation shifts potassium into cells while corticosteroid mineralocorticoid activity increases renal potassium loss.
What to do
Monitor serum potassium in patients on high or prolonged corticosteroid doses with frequent beta-agonist use. Supplement potassium if levels fall.
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 Deflazacort
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Deflazacort Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Deflazacort Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Deflazacort + Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Deflazacort with Pirbuterol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Deflazacort and Pirbuterol 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 a beta-2 agonist and a systemic corticosteroid can lower serum potassium. Used together, especially with repeated pirbuterol dosing, they may cause additive hypokalemia and increase arrhythmia risk in vulnerable patients.
How serious is the interaction between Deflazacort and Pirbuterol?
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 serum potassium in patients on high or prolonged corticosteroid doses with frequent beta-agonist use. Supplement potassium if levels fall.
What other medicines interact with Deflazacort?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Deflazacort with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal. The full list is on the Deflazacort page.
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