Drug interactions
Etoposide + St john's wort
Severity: Moderate
Etoposide and St john's wort: 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
St John's wort may lower etoposide concentrations and reduce chemotherapy efficacy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Etoposide and St john's wort 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
St John's wort induces CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, increasing etoposide elimination.
What to do
Advise patients to stop St John's wort before and during etoposide therapy. Tell patients about herbal use and monitor response.
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 St john's wort, 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 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 St john's wort?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Etoposide and St john's wort 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. St John's wort may lower etoposide concentrations and reduce chemotherapy efficacy.
How serious is the interaction between Etoposide and St john's wort?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to stop St John's wort before and during etoposide therapy. Tell patients about herbal use and monitor response.
What other medicines interact with Etoposide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Etoposide with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Pentostatin, Cyclosporin. The full list is on the Etoposide 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.
