Drug interactions
Etoposide + Ketoconazole
Severity: Moderate
Etoposide and Ketoconazole: 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
Ketoconazole may increase etoposide exposure and toxicity, notably myelosuppression and mucositis. Evidence is limited, but etoposide has a narrow therapeutic index.
What this interaction means in plain words
Etoposide and Ketoconazole 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.
Etoposide belongs to Oncology; Ketoconazole belongs to Anti Fungals.
Why it happens
Ketoconazole inhibits CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, which are involved in etoposide elimination.
What to do
Monitor blood counts and consider reducing the etoposide dose if toxicity appears.
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 Etoposide and Ketoconazole, 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 Ketoconazole
- Alfuzosin + Ketoconazole Contraindicated
- Alprazolam + Ketoconazole Contraindicated
- Avanafil + Ketoconazole Contraindicated
- Conivaptan + Ketoconazole Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Ketoconazole Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine + Ketoconazole Contraindicated
Other interactions of Etoposide
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Etoposide Contraindicated
- Etoposide + Pentostatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporin + Etoposide Major
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Etoposide Major
- Etoposide + Fingolimod Major
- Etoposide + Fosphenytoin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Etoposide with Ketoconazole?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Etoposide and Ketoconazole 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. Ketoconazole may increase etoposide exposure and toxicity, notably myelosuppression and mucositis. Evidence is limited, but etoposide has a narrow therapeutic index.
How serious is the interaction between Etoposide and Ketoconazole?
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 counts and consider reducing the etoposide dose if toxicity appears.
What other medicines interact with Ketoconazole?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ketoconazole with, for example, Alfuzosin, Alprazolam, Avanafil. The full list is on the Ketoconazole 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.
