Drug interactions
Gemcitabine + Olaparib
Severity: Moderate
Gemcitabine and Olaparib: 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
Both drugs cause myelosuppression, and combined use can lead to more severe and prolonged cytopenias, increasing infection and bleeding risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gemcitabine and Olaparib 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.
Gemcitabine belongs to Oncology; Olaparib belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive bone marrow toxicity from a nucleoside analogue and a PARP inhibitor.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts frequently and reduce doses or interrupt therapy for significant cytopenias.
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 Gemcitabine
Other interactions of Olaparib
- Amiodarone + Olaparib Major
- Amobarbital + Olaparib Major
- Apalutamide + Olaparib Major
- Aprepitant + Olaparib Major
- Azathioprine + Olaparib Major
- Carbamazepine + Olaparib Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gemcitabine with Olaparib?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Gemcitabine and Olaparib 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. Both drugs cause myelosuppression, and combined use can lead to more severe and prolonged cytopenias, increasing infection and bleeding risk.
How serious is the interaction between Gemcitabine and Olaparib?
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 frequently and reduce doses or interrupt therapy for significant cytopenias.
What other medicines interact with Gemcitabine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Gemcitabine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Axicabtagene ciloleucel, Belatacept. The full list is on the Gemcitabine page.
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