Drug interactions
Phenobarbital + Sarilumab
Severity: Moderate
Phenobarbital and Sarilumab: 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
IL-6 blockade may restore CYP enzyme activity that inflammation had suppressed, potentially lowering levels of CYP substrates. Phenobarbital concentrations could fall, reducing seizure control.
What this interaction means in plain words
Phenobarbital and Sarilumab 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
Sarilumab reverses IL-6-mediated CYP downregulation, increasing phenobarbital metabolism.
What to do
Monitor phenobarbital levels and seizure control when sarilumab is started or stopped, and adjust the dose as needed.
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 Sarilumab
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Phenobarbital with Sarilumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Phenobarbital and Sarilumab 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. IL-6 blockade may restore CYP enzyme activity that inflammation had suppressed, potentially lowering levels of CYP substrates. Phenobarbital concentrations could fall, reducing seizure control.
How serious is the interaction between Phenobarbital and Sarilumab?
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 phenobarbital levels and seizure control when sarilumab is started or stopped, and adjust the dose as needed.
What other medicines interact with Sarilumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sarilumab with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Dengue vaccine. The full list is on the Sarilumab page.
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