Drug interactions
Hydroxyurea + Tocilizumab
Severity: Moderate
Hydroxyurea and Tocilizumab: 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
Hydroxyurea causes myelosuppression and tocilizumab can cause neutropenia and increased infections, so together they may increase infection risk and cytopenias.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydroxyurea and Tocilizumab 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.
Hydroxyurea belongs to Miscellaneous; Tocilizumab belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive immunosuppression and neutropenia from bone marrow suppression and IL-6 receptor blockade.
What to do
Monitor neutrophil and platelet counts and signs of infection. Reduce or hold either drug if significant cytopenias occur.
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 Tocilizumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Rubella vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Smallpox vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
Other interactions of Hydroxyurea
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydroxyurea with Tocilizumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydroxyurea and Tocilizumab 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. Hydroxyurea causes myelosuppression and tocilizumab can cause neutropenia and increased infections, so together they may increase infection risk and cytopenias.
How serious is the interaction between Hydroxyurea and Tocilizumab?
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 neutrophil and platelet counts and signs of infection. Reduce or hold either drug if significant cytopenias occur.
What other medicines interact with Tocilizumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tocilizumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Tocilizumab page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
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