Drug interactions
Droperidol + Erythromycin
Severity: Contraindicated
Droperidol and Erythromycin: contraindicated 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 agents prolong the QT interval, and droperidol carries a boxed warning for torsades de pointes. Giving them together substantially increases the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Droperidol and Erythromycin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
Additive QT prolongation from hERG potassium channel blockade, with erythromycin possibly raising droperidol levels via CYP3A4 inhibition.
What to do
Avoid the combination and use a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic or antiemetic. If droperidol is essential, do not co-administer erythromycin.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Erythromycin
- Conivaptan + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Domperidone + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Ergotamine + Erythromycin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Droperidol with Erythromycin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Droperidol and Erythromycin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Both agents prolong the QT interval, and droperidol carries a boxed warning for torsades de pointes. Giving them together substantially increases the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia.
How serious is the interaction between Droperidol and Erythromycin?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination and use a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic or antiemetic. If droperidol is essential, do not co-administer erythromycin.
What other medicines interact with Erythromycin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Erythromycin with, for example, Conivaptan, Dihydroergotamine intranasal, Dihydroergotamine. The full list is on the Erythromycin page.
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