Drug interactions
Prednisone + Tacrolimus
Severity: Moderate
Prednisone and Tacrolimus: 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
These agents are commonly used together in transplantation. Corticosteroids may modestly lower tacrolimus levels through enzyme induction, and both have additive immunosuppression and effects on glucose metabolism.
What this interaction means in plain words
Prednisone and Tacrolimus 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.
Prednisone belongs to Endocrine; Tacrolimus belongs to Miscellaneous.
Why it happens
Prednisone may induce CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, modestly increasing tacrolimus clearance.
What to do
Monitor tacrolimus trough concentrations when prednisone is started, changed or stopped, and adjust the tacrolimus dose. Monitor blood glucose and infection signs.
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 Prednisone and Tacrolimus, 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 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone Major
Other interactions of Tacrolimus
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Tacrolimus Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Tacrolimus Contraindicated
- Cidofovir + Tacrolimus Contraindicated
- Cyclosporin + Tacrolimus Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Tacrolimus Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Tacrolimus Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Prednisone with Tacrolimus?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Prednisone and Tacrolimus 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. These agents are commonly used together in transplantation. Corticosteroids may modestly lower tacrolimus levels through enzyme induction, and both have additive immunosuppression and effects on glucose metabolism.
How serious is the interaction between Prednisone and Tacrolimus?
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 tacrolimus trough concentrations when prednisone is started, changed or stopped, and adjust the tacrolimus dose. Monitor blood glucose and infection signs.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone 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.
