Drug interactions
Erythromycin + Leuprolide
Severity: Moderate
Erythromycin and Leuprolide: 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
Androgen deprivation therapy with leuprolide can prolong the QT interval, and erythromycin has the same effect. Combining them may raise the risk of torsades de pointes, especially in older patients or those with cardiac disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Erythromycin and Leuprolide 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 belongs to Anti Bacterial; Leuprolide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive QT prolongation through hERG blockade by erythromycin and hormonal effects of androgen suppression.
What to do
Consider an ECG and check potassium and magnesium before combining. Prefer a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic in patients with other risk factors.
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 Erythromycin and Leuprolide, 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 Erythromycin
- Conivaptan + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Domperidone + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Erythromycin Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Erythromycin Contraindicated
Other interactions of Leuprolide
- Leuprolide + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Leuprolide + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Leuprolide Major
- Arsenic trioxide + Leuprolide Major
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Leuprolide Major
- Disopyramide + Leuprolide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Erythromycin with Leuprolide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Erythromycin and Leuprolide 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. Androgen deprivation therapy with leuprolide can prolong the QT interval, and erythromycin has the same effect. Combining them may raise the risk of torsades de pointes, especially in older patients or those with cardiac disease.
How serious is the interaction between Erythromycin and Leuprolide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Consider an ECG and check potassium and magnesium before combining. Prefer a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic in patients with other risk factors.
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.
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.
