Drug interactions
Mercaptopurine + Trastuzumab
Severity: Moderate
Mercaptopurine and Trastuzumab: 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
Trastuzumab has been associated with more neutropenia and febrile neutropenia when given with myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Mercaptopurine can add to marrow suppression, so infection risk may be higher.
What this interaction means in plain words
Mercaptopurine and Trastuzumab 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; Trastuzumab belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive neutropenic effects; trastuzumab enhances chemotherapy-related neutropenia through a poorly defined pharmacodynamic mechanism.
What to do
Monitor neutrophil counts regularly and manage fever promptly. Adjust chemotherapy dose or delay treatment if severe neutropenia 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 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 Trastuzumab
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Mercaptopurine with Trastuzumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Mercaptopurine and Trastuzumab 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. Trastuzumab has been associated with more neutropenia and febrile neutropenia when given with myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Mercaptopurine can add to marrow suppression, so infection risk may be higher.
How serious is the interaction between Mercaptopurine and Trastuzumab?
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 counts regularly and manage fever promptly. Adjust chemotherapy dose or delay treatment if severe neutropenia occurs.
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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