Drug interactions
Ethambutol + Febuxostat
Severity: Moderate
Ethambutol and Febuxostat: 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
Ethambutol reduces renal urate excretion and can cause hyperuricemia or gout flares, which opposes febuxostat's urate-lowering effect. Urate control may be worse than expected on the combination.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ethambutol and Febuxostat 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.
Ethambutol belongs to Anti Bacterial; Febuxostat belongs to Genitourinary.
Why it happens
Ethambutol decreases renal tubular urate excretion, producing pharmacodynamic antagonism of febuxostat.
What to do
Monitor serum uric acid and gout symptoms during ethambutol therapy and titrate febuxostat as needed. Provide flare prophylaxis if appropriate.
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 Febuxostat
- Azathioprine + Febuxostat Contraindicated
- Febuxostat + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Didanosine + Febuxostat Major
- Apalutamide + Febuxostat Moderate
- Febuxostat + Theophylline Moderate
Other interactions of Ethambutol
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ethambutol with Febuxostat?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ethambutol and Febuxostat 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. Ethambutol reduces renal urate excretion and can cause hyperuricemia or gout flares, which opposes febuxostat's urate-lowering effect. Urate control may be worse than expected on the combination.
How serious is the interaction between Ethambutol and Febuxostat?
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 serum uric acid and gout symptoms during ethambutol therapy and titrate febuxostat as needed. Provide flare prophylaxis if appropriate.
What other medicines interact with Febuxostat?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Febuxostat with, for example, Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine, Didanosine. The full list is on the Febuxostat page.
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