Drug interactions
Lithium + Vandetanib
Severity: Contraindicated
Lithium and Vandetanib: contraindicated 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
Vandetanib carries a boxed warning for QT prolongation, torsades de pointes and sudden death, and lithium may add to this risk. Concurrent QT-prolonging drugs are to be avoided.
What this interaction means in plain words
Lithium and Vandetanib are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Lithium belongs to Central Nervous System; Vandetanib belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive QTc prolongation; vandetanib is a potent QT-prolonging agent with a long half-life.
What to do
Avoid the combination and use an alternative to lithium. If both are unavoidable, monitor ECG and electrolytes frequently.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Lithium
- Lithium + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Lithium Major
- Acemetacin + Lithium Major
- Amisulpride + Lithium Major
- Amlodipine-benazepril + Lithium Major
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Lithium Major
Other interactions of Vandetanib
- Amiodarone + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Anagrelide + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Asenapine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Chloroquine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Lithium with Vandetanib?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Lithium and Vandetanib are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Vandetanib carries a boxed warning for QT prolongation, torsades de pointes and sudden death, and lithium may add to this risk. Concurrent QT-prolonging drugs are to be avoided.
How serious is the interaction between Lithium and Vandetanib?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination and use an alternative to lithium. If both are unavoidable, monitor ECG and electrolytes frequently.
What other medicines interact with Lithium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Lithium with, for example, Thioridazine, Aceclofenac, Acemetacin. The full list is on the Lithium page.
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