Drug interactions
Dexamethasone + Ethacrynic acid
Severity: Moderate
Dexamethasone and Ethacrynic acid: 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 promote urinary potassium loss, so combining them can cause additive hypokalemia. Low potassium raises the risk of arrhythmias, particularly in patients on digoxin or with heart disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Dexamethasone and Ethacrynic acid 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.
Dexamethasone belongs to Endocrine; Ethacrynic acid belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive renal potassium wasting from loop diuretic action and glucocorticoid mineralocorticoid activity.
What to do
Monitor serum potassium and magnesium regularly and supplement or add a potassium-sparing agent 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 Dexamethasone and Ethacrynic acid, 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 Dexamethasone
- Bcg vaccine live + Dexamethasone Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Rilpivirine Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Varicella virus vaccine live Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Yellow fever vaccine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ethacrynic acid
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Dexamethasone with Ethacrynic acid?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dexamethasone and Ethacrynic acid 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 promote urinary potassium loss, so combining them can cause additive hypokalemia. Low potassium raises the risk of arrhythmias, particularly in patients on digoxin or with heart disease.
How serious is the interaction between Dexamethasone and Ethacrynic acid?
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 and magnesium regularly and supplement or add a potassium-sparing agent as needed.
What other medicines interact with Dexamethasone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Dexamethasone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Mifepristone, Rilpivirine. The full list is on the Dexamethasone 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.
