Drug interactions
Mercaptopurine + Oxaliplatin
Severity: Moderate
Mercaptopurine and Oxaliplatin: 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 can cause bone marrow suppression, so together they may produce more severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. This increases the risk of infection and bleeding.
What this interaction means in plain words
Mercaptopurine and Oxaliplatin 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.
Mercaptopurine belongs to Oncology; Oxaliplatin belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive myelosuppression from DNA-damaging platinum therapy and antimetabolite activity.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts before each cycle and adjust doses or delay treatment if counts fall.
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 Mercaptopurine
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Febuxostat + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Mercaptopurine + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
Other interactions of Oxaliplatin
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Oxaliplatin Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Oxaliplatin Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Oxaliplatin Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Oxaliplatin Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine + Oxaliplatin Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Oxaliplatin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Mercaptopurine with Oxaliplatin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Mercaptopurine and Oxaliplatin 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 can cause bone marrow suppression, so together they may produce more severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. This increases the risk of infection and bleeding.
How serious is the interaction between Mercaptopurine and Oxaliplatin?
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 before each cycle and adjust doses or delay treatment if counts fall.
What other medicines interact with Mercaptopurine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mercaptopurine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Azathioprine, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Mercaptopurine page.
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