Drug interactions
Hydroxycarbamide + Irinotecan
Severity: Moderate
Hydroxycarbamide and Irinotecan: 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
Both agents cause bone marrow suppression, so combined use may increase neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. This raises the risk of infection and bleeding.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydroxycarbamide and Irinotecan 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.
Hydroxycarbamide belongs to Oncology; Irinotecan belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive myelosuppressive pharmacodynamic effects.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts frequently and reduce or delay doses of one or both drugs if significant myelosuppression occurs.
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 Irinotecan
- Clozapine + Irinotecan Contraindicated
- Irinotecan + Sacituzumab govitecan Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Irinotecan Major
- Apalutamide + Irinotecan Major
- Atazanavir + Irinotecan Major
- Carbamazepine + Irinotecan Major
Other interactions of Hydroxycarbamide
- Didanosine + Hydroxycarbamide Contraindicated
- Hydroxycarbamide + Stavudine Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydroxycarbamide Major
- Axicabtagene ciloleucel + Hydroxycarbamide Major
- Bcg intravesical live + Hydroxycarbamide Major
- Bcg vaccine live + Hydroxycarbamide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydroxycarbamide with Irinotecan?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydroxycarbamide and Irinotecan 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. Both agents cause bone marrow suppression, so combined use may increase neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. This raises the risk of infection and bleeding.
How serious is the interaction between Hydroxycarbamide and Irinotecan?
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 complete blood counts frequently and reduce or delay doses of one or both drugs if significant myelosuppression occurs.
What other medicines interact with Irinotecan?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Irinotecan with, for example, Clozapine, Sacituzumab govitecan, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live. The full list is on the Irinotecan page.
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