Drug interactions
Glycerol phenylbutyrate + Hydrocortisone
Severity: Moderate
Glycerol phenylbutyrate and Hydrocortisone: 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
Corticosteroids promote protein catabolism, which can raise plasma ammonia. This opposes the ammonia-lowering goal of glycerol phenylbutyrate in urea cycle disorders and risks hyperammonemia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Glycerol phenylbutyrate and Hydrocortisone 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.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate belongs to Miscellaneous; Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Corticosteroid-induced protein breakdown increases nitrogen load and ammonia production, counteracting nitrogen scavenging.
What to do
Monitor plasma ammonia closely when starting, stopping or changing hydrocortisone dose. Adjust glycerol phenylbutyrate and dietary protein as advised by the metabolic team.
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 Hydrocortisone
- Hydrocortisone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aspirin + Hydrocortisone Major
Other interactions of Glycerol phenylbutyrate
- Dexamethasone + Glycerol phenylbutyrate Major
- Glycerol phenylbutyrate + Sodium valproate Major
- Glycerol phenylbutyrate + Valproic acid Major
- Cyclosporin + Glycerol phenylbutyrate Moderate
- Dexamethasone-neomycin-polymyxin + Glycerol phenylbutyrate Moderate
- Dexamethasone-tobramycin + Glycerol phenylbutyrate Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Glycerol phenylbutyrate with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Glycerol phenylbutyrate and Hydrocortisone 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. Corticosteroids promote protein catabolism, which can raise plasma ammonia. This opposes the ammonia-lowering goal of glycerol phenylbutyrate in urea cycle disorders and risks hyperammonemia.
How serious is the interaction between Glycerol phenylbutyrate and Hydrocortisone?
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 plasma ammonia closely when starting, stopping or changing hydrocortisone dose. Adjust glycerol phenylbutyrate and dietary protein as advised by the metabolic team.
What other medicines interact with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydrocortisone with, for example, Mifepristone, Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent, Smallpox vaccine live. The full list is on the Hydrocortisone page.
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