Drug interactions
Erythromycin + Repaglinide
Severity: Moderate
Erythromycin and Repaglinide: 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 repaglinide concentrations, which can intensify and prolong its glucose-lowering effect and cause hypoglycemia. The effect is variable among patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Erythromycin and Repaglinide 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; Repaglinide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Inhibition of CYP3A4 (and possibly OATP1B1) by erythromycin, reducing repaglinide clearance.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose closely and counsel the patient on hypoglycemia symptoms. Reduce the repaglinide dose if glucose falls, or use a different 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 Repaglinide
- Gemfibrozil + Repaglinide Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Repaglinide Major
- Clopidogrel + Repaglinide Major
- Cobicistat + Repaglinide Major
- Cyclosporin + Repaglinide Major
- Deferasirox + Repaglinide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Erythromycin with Repaglinide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Erythromycin and Repaglinide 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 repaglinide concentrations, which can intensify and prolong its glucose-lowering effect and cause hypoglycemia. The effect is variable among patients.
How serious is the interaction between Erythromycin and Repaglinide?
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 blood glucose closely and counsel the patient on hypoglycemia symptoms. Reduce the repaglinide dose if glucose falls, or use a different 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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