Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Verapamil
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Verapamil: 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
Verapamil inhibits CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein and can raise hydrocortisone exposure, increasing steroid-related adverse effects. Corticosteroids may modestly lower verapamil exposure through weak CYP3A4 induction. Effects are usually modest with short courses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Verapamil 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; Verapamil belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Verapamil inhibits CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, reducing hydrocortisone clearance, while hydrocortisone weakly induces CYP3A4.
What to do
Monitor for corticosteroid excess such as hyperglycemia, fluid retention and hypertension with long-term use. Check blood pressure and heart rate response to verapamil and adjust the dose if needed.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Hydrocortisone and Verapamil, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
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 Verapamil
- Dofetilide + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Flibanserin + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Lomitapide + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Lonafarnib + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Acebutolol + Verapamil Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Verapamil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Verapamil 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. Verapamil inhibits CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein and can raise hydrocortisone exposure, increasing steroid-related adverse effects. Corticosteroids may modestly lower verapamil exposure through weak CYP3A4 induction. Effects are usually modest with short courses.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Verapamil?
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 for corticosteroid excess such as hyperglycemia, fluid retention and hypertension with long-term use. Check blood pressure and heart rate response to verapamil and adjust the dose if needed.
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.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
