Drug interactions
Erlotinib + Erythromycin
Severity: Moderate
Erlotinib and Erythromycin: 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 may raise erlotinib concentrations and increase adverse effects such as rash, diarrhea, and rarely interstitial lung disease. The effect is expected from CYP3A4 inhibition, as seen with stronger inhibitors.
What this interaction means in plain words
Erlotinib and Erythromycin 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.
Erlotinib belongs to Oncology; Erythromycin belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Inhibition of CYP3A4 reduces erlotinib metabolism.
What to do
Monitor for erlotinib toxicity such as severe diarrhea or rash, and consider reducing the erlotinib dose in steps if intolerable reactions occur. Consider a non-inhibiting antibiotic.
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 Erythromycin
- Conivaptan + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Domperidone + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Erythromycin Contraindicated
Other interactions of Erlotinib
- Amobarbital + Erlotinib Major
- Apalutamide + Erlotinib Major
- Carbamazepine + Erlotinib Major
- Cobicistat + Erlotinib Major
- Darunavir + Erlotinib Major
- Dexlansoprazole + Erlotinib Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Erlotinib with Erythromycin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Erlotinib and Erythromycin 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 may raise erlotinib concentrations and increase adverse effects such as rash, diarrhea, and rarely interstitial lung disease. The effect is expected from CYP3A4 inhibition, as seen with stronger inhibitors.
How serious is the interaction between Erlotinib and Erythromycin?
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 for erlotinib toxicity such as severe diarrhea or rash, and consider reducing the erlotinib dose in steps if intolerable reactions occur. Consider a non-inhibiting antibiotic.
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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