Drug interactions
Etanercept + Ustekinumab
Severity: Major
Etanercept and Ustekinumab: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: UK SmPC
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
Ustekinumab targets IL-12/23 and etanercept blocks TNF-alpha. Using two biologics together increases infection risk without proven added efficacy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Etanercept and Ustekinumab can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Etanercept belongs to Musculoskeletal; Ustekinumab belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Additive immunosuppression through dual cytokine pathway blockade.
What to do
Avoid combining. Use one biologic and switch if response is inadequate.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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References
Other interactions of Ustekinumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Typhoid vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Adalimumab + Ustekinumab Major
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Ustekinumab Major
- Alefacept + Ustekinumab Major
- Anakinra + Ustekinumab Major
Other interactions of Etanercept
- Bcg vaccine live + Etanercept Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Golimumab Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live Contraindicated
- Etanercept + Measles vaccine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Etanercept with Ustekinumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Etanercept and Ustekinumab can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Ustekinumab targets IL-12/23 and etanercept blocks TNF-alpha. Using two biologics together increases infection risk without proven added efficacy.
How serious is the interaction between Etanercept and Ustekinumab?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid combining. Use one biologic and switch if response is inadequate.
What other medicines interact with Ustekinumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ustekinumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Typhoid vaccine live, Adalimumab. The full list is on the Ustekinumab page.
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