Drug interactions
Desflurane + Erythromycin ethylsuccinate
Severity: Moderate
Desflurane and Erythromycin ethylsuccinate: 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
Erythromycin prolongs the QT interval and can cause torsades de pointes, and desflurane adds to repolarization delay. The risk is higher with electrolyte disturbance or other QT-prolonging drugs.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 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
Additive QT prolongation via inhibition of cardiac potassium channels.
What to do
Check QTc and correct potassium and magnesium before anesthesia. Monitor the ECG perioperatively and use a non-macrolide antibiotic if QTc is prolonged.
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 Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Erythromycin ethylsuccinate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desflurane and Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 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. Erythromycin prolongs the QT interval and can cause torsades de pointes, and desflurane adds to repolarization delay. The risk is higher with electrolyte disturbance or other QT-prolonging drugs.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Erythromycin ethylsuccinate?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Check QTc and correct potassium and magnesium before anesthesia. Monitor the ECG perioperatively and use a non-macrolide antibiotic if QTc is prolonged.
What other medicines interact with Desflurane?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Desflurane with, for example, Amisulpride, Anagrelide, Arsenic trioxide. The full list is on the Desflurane page.
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