Drug interactions
Erlotinib + Rifabutin
Severity: Moderate
Erlotinib and Rifabutin: 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
Rifabutin induces CYP3A4 and can lower erlotinib exposure, potentially reducing anticancer efficacy. Erlotinib labeling advises considering alternatives to CYP3A4 inducers.
What this interaction means in plain words
Erlotinib and Rifabutin 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; Rifabutin belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
CYP3A4 induction by rifabutin increases erlotinib clearance.
What to do
Use an alternative to rifabutin if possible; otherwise consider increasing the erlotinib dose with tolerability monitoring and reduce it again after rifabutin is stopped.
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 Erlotinib
- Amobarbital + Erlotinib Major
- Apalutamide + Erlotinib Major
- Carbamazepine + Erlotinib Major
- Cobicistat + Erlotinib Major
- Darunavir + Erlotinib Major
- Dexlansoprazole + Erlotinib Major
Other interactions of Rifabutin
- Cabotegravir + Rifabutin Contraindicated
- Lorlatinib + Rifabutin Contraindicated
- Rifabutin + Voriconazole Contraindicated
- Apixaban + Rifabutin Major
- Axitinib + Rifabutin Major
- Brexpiprazole + Rifabutin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Erlotinib with Rifabutin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Erlotinib and Rifabutin 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. Rifabutin induces CYP3A4 and can lower erlotinib exposure, potentially reducing anticancer efficacy. Erlotinib labeling advises considering alternatives to CYP3A4 inducers.
How serious is the interaction between Erlotinib and Rifabutin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use an alternative to rifabutin if possible; otherwise consider increasing the erlotinib dose with tolerability monitoring and reduce it again after rifabutin is stopped.
What other medicines interact with Erlotinib?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Erlotinib with, for example, Amobarbital, Apalutamide, Carbamazepine. The full list is on the Erlotinib page.
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