Drug interactions
Ganciclovir + Sulfasalazine
Severity: Moderate
Ganciclovir and Sulfasalazine: 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
Sulfasalazine and its metabolites are acidic and may compete with ganciclovir for tubular secretion. Sulfasalazine can also cause leukopenia, which may add to ganciclovir myelosuppression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ganciclovir and Sulfasalazine 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
Possible competition for renal tubular secretion plus additive bone marrow suppression.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts closely and review renal function; reduce or stop one agent if cytopenias develop.
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 Ganciclovir
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ganciclovir with Sulfasalazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ganciclovir and Sulfasalazine 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. Sulfasalazine and its metabolites are acidic and may compete with ganciclovir for tubular secretion. Sulfasalazine can also cause leukopenia, which may add to ganciclovir myelosuppression.
How serious is the interaction between Ganciclovir and Sulfasalazine?
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 complete blood counts closely and review renal function; reduce or stop one agent if cytopenias develop.
What other medicines interact with Ganciclovir?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ganciclovir with, for example, Bacitracin, Cilastatin-imipenem, Didanosine. The full list is on the Ganciclovir page.
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