Drug interactions
Doxorubicin + Mercaptopurine
Severity: Moderate
Doxorubicin and Mercaptopurine: 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 can injure the liver, and doxorubicin also adds marrow suppression. Used together they may increase hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Doxorubicin and Mercaptopurine 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.
Doxorubicin belongs to Oncology; Mercaptopurine belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive hepatotoxic and myelosuppressive effects (pharmacodynamic); no specific pharmacokinetic mechanism established.
What to do
Monitor liver function tests and complete blood counts regularly. Reduce the dose of mercaptopurine if liver enzymes or bilirubin rise or counts fall significantly.
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 Mercaptopurine
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Febuxostat + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Mercaptopurine + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
Other interactions of Doxorubicin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Doxorubicin with Mercaptopurine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Doxorubicin and Mercaptopurine 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 can injure the liver, and doxorubicin also adds marrow suppression. Used together they may increase hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression.
How serious is the interaction between Doxorubicin and Mercaptopurine?
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 liver function tests and complete blood counts regularly. Reduce the dose of mercaptopurine if liver enzymes or bilirubin rise or counts fall significantly.
What other medicines interact with Mercaptopurine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mercaptopurine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Azathioprine, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Mercaptopurine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
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