Drug interactions
Hemin + Hydrocortisone
Severity: Moderate
Hemin 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
Hemin treats acute porphyria attacks by repressing hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase. Drugs that induce this enzyme can promote porphyria attacks and may counter hemin's benefit. Steroids have been listed as potentially porphyrinogenic, although hydrocortisone is often regarded as relatively safe.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hemin 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.
Hemin belongs to Miscellaneous; Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Steroids may upregulate hepatic ALA synthase, opposing hemin's feedback repression of heme synthesis.
What to do
Monitor clinical status and urinary porphobilinogen during an attack when hydrocortisone is needed. Use the lowest effective steroid dose and consult a porphyria specialist.
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 Hemin
- Hemin + Secobarbital Major
- Argatroban + Hemin Moderate
- Bazedoxifene-conjugated estrogens + Hemin Moderate
- Dabigatran etexilate + Hemin Moderate
- Dalteparin + Hemin Moderate
- Desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol + Hemin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hemin with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hemin 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. Hemin treats acute porphyria attacks by repressing hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase. Drugs that induce this enzyme can promote porphyria attacks and may counter hemin's benefit. Steroids have been listed as potentially porphyrinogenic, although hydrocortisone is often regarded as relatively safe.
How serious is the interaction between Hemin 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 clinical status and urinary porphobilinogen during an attack when hydrocortisone is needed. Use the lowest effective steroid dose and consult a porphyria specialist.
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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