Drug interactions
Pemetrexed + Sulfasalazine
Severity: Moderate
Pemetrexed and Sulfasalazine: 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
Sulfasalazine is not a classical NSAID, and no well-established pharmacokinetic interaction with pemetrexed is known. Sulfasalazine can itself cause marrow suppression and folate deficiency, which could add to pemetrexed hematologic toxicity.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pemetrexed and Sulfasalazine 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.
Why it happens
Possible additive myelosuppression and antifolate effects; a pharmacokinetic mechanism is not established.
What to do
Monitor complete blood counts and renal function during combined use. Ensure folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation for pemetrexed is taken as prescribed.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Pemetrexed and Sulfasalazine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Pemetrexed
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pemetrexed with Sulfasalazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pemetrexed and Sulfasalazine 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. Sulfasalazine is not a classical NSAID, and no well-established pharmacokinetic interaction with pemetrexed is known. Sulfasalazine can itself cause marrow suppression and folate deficiency, which could add to pemetrexed hematologic toxicity.
How serious is the interaction between Pemetrexed and Sulfasalazine?
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 and renal function during combined use. Ensure folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation for pemetrexed is taken as prescribed.
What other medicines interact with Pemetrexed?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pemetrexed with, for example, Bacitracin, Brexucabtagene autoleucel, Celecoxib. The full list is on the Pemetrexed page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
