Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Rufinamide
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Rufinamide: 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
Rufinamide is a weak CYP3A4 inducer and may lower hydrocortisone exposure. This could reduce glucocorticoid effect, which matters most in patients on replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Rufinamide 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.
Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine; Rufinamide belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Rufinamide weakly induces CYP3A4, increasing hydrocortisone clearance.
What to do
In adrenal insufficiency, watch for signs of under-replacement (fatigue, hypotension, hyponatremia) and increase the hydrocortisone dose if needed. No routine change is needed for short courses.
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 Rufinamide
- Carbamazepine + Rufinamide Moderate
- Desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol + Rufinamide Moderate
- Dronedarone + Rufinamide Moderate
- Esketamine + Rufinamide Moderate
- Ethinyl estradiol-drospirenone + Rufinamide Moderate
- Ethinyl estradiol-levonorgestrel + Rufinamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Rufinamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Rufinamide 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. Rufinamide is a weak CYP3A4 inducer and may lower hydrocortisone exposure. This could reduce glucocorticoid effect, which matters most in patients on replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Rufinamide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: In adrenal insufficiency, watch for signs of under-replacement (fatigue, hypotension, hyponatremia) and increase the hydrocortisone dose if needed. No routine change is needed for short courses.
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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