Drug interactions
Tocilizumab + Trastuzumab
Severity: Moderate
Tocilizumab 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
Both agents can affect immune function or blood counts, and trastuzumab increases neutropenia when combined with myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Used together, particularly in patients on chemotherapy, the risk of serious infection may be higher. No direct pharmacokinetic interaction is established.
What this interaction means in plain words
Tocilizumab 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.
Tocilizumab belongs to Musculoskeletal; Trastuzumab belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic effects: IL-6 receptor blockade with immunosuppression plus trastuzumab-associated neutropenia in the setting of chemotherapy.
What to do
Monitor neutrophil counts and for signs of infection during combined use. Interrupt tocilizumab if a serious infection or significant neutropenia develops.
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 Tocilizumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Rubella vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Smallpox vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
Other interactions of Trastuzumab
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Tocilizumab with Trastuzumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Tocilizumab 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. Both agents can affect immune function or blood counts, and trastuzumab increases neutropenia when combined with myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Used together, particularly in patients on chemotherapy, the risk of serious infection may be higher. No direct pharmacokinetic interaction is established.
How serious is the interaction between Tocilizumab 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 and for signs of infection during combined use. Interrupt tocilizumab if a serious infection or significant neutropenia develops.
What other medicines interact with Tocilizumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tocilizumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Tocilizumab page.
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