Drug interactions
Gemifloxacin + Iron
Severity: Moderate
Gemifloxacin and Iron: 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
Oral iron reduces gemifloxacin absorption through chelation, risking subtherapeutic antibiotic levels and treatment failure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gemifloxacin and Iron 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.
Gemifloxacin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Iron belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Chelation of gemifloxacin by polyvalent iron cations in the gut, reducing absorption.
What to do
Give gemifloxacin at least 3 hours before or 2 hours after oral iron. Intravenous iron avoids the interaction.
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 Iron
- Acetohydroxamic acid + Iron Moderate
- Aluminum hydroxide + Iron Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Iron Moderate
- Calcium acetate + Iron Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Iron Moderate
- Calcium citrate + Iron Moderate
Other interactions of Gemifloxacin
- Arsenic trioxide + Gemifloxacin Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Gemifloxacin Contraindicated
- Gemifloxacin + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Gemifloxacin + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Gemifloxacin + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Gemifloxacin + Vandetanib Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gemifloxacin with Iron?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Gemifloxacin and Iron 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. Oral iron reduces gemifloxacin absorption through chelation, risking subtherapeutic antibiotic levels and treatment failure.
How serious is the interaction between Gemifloxacin and Iron?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give gemifloxacin at least 3 hours before or 2 hours after oral iron. Intravenous iron avoids the interaction.
What other medicines interact with Iron?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Iron with, for example, Acetohydroxamic acid, Aluminum hydroxide, Baloxavir marboxil. The full list is on the Iron page.
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