Drug interactions
Ethinylestradiol + Metyrapone
Severity: Moderate
Ethinylestradiol and Metyrapone: 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
Estrogens raise corticosteroid-binding globulin and total cortisol, which can distort the interpretation of the metyrapone test. This may produce a blunted or misleading response of cortisol precursors and falsely suggest an abnormal result.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ethinylestradiol and Metyrapone 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.
Why it happens
Estrogen-induced increase in cortisol-binding globulin alters total cortisol and may blunt the measured response to metyrapone; the exact mechanism is not fully established.
What to do
Where feasible, interpret metyrapone testing cautiously in patients taking estrogens and consider holding estrogen therapy beforehand if the test result would change management. Use free cortisol or ACTH and 11-deoxycortisol measurements to aid interpretation.
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 Metyrapone
- Metyrapone + Pacritinib Major
- Budesonide + Metyrapone Moderate
- Cortisone + Metyrapone Moderate
- Cyproheptadine + Metyrapone Moderate
- Deflazacort + Metyrapone Moderate
- Desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol + Metyrapone Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ethinylestradiol with Metyrapone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ethinylestradiol and Metyrapone 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. Estrogens raise corticosteroid-binding globulin and total cortisol, which can distort the interpretation of the metyrapone test. This may produce a blunted or misleading response of cortisol precursors and falsely suggest an abnormal result.
How serious is the interaction between Ethinylestradiol and Metyrapone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Where feasible, interpret metyrapone testing cautiously in patients taking estrogens and consider holding estrogen therapy beforehand if the test result would change management. Use free cortisol or ACTH and 11-deoxycortisol measurements to aid interpretation.
What other medicines interact with Metyrapone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Metyrapone with, for example, Pacritinib, Budesonide, Cortisone. The full list is on the Metyrapone page.
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