You are here: Home Managing Your ... Chemotherapy 101: ... Irinotecan ... Irinotecan: Interactions ...
Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Irinotecan (Camptosar)

Irinotecan: Interactions With Other Drugs And Food

Next » « Previous

4/8

This content was provided by
© American Cancer Society 2010

Interactions with other drugs

Irinotecan can interact with a number of drugs and supplements, which may either raise or lower the level of irinotecan in your blood. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

  • anti-depressant drugs nefazodone (Serzone), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac, Serafem)
  • antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin, and similar drugs
  • anti-fungal antibiotics such as ketoconazole and itraconazole
  • the anti-nausea drug aprepitant
  • certain blood pressure medicines such as diltiazem and verapamil
  • HIV drugs such as indinavir, ritonavir, amprenavir, fosamprenavir, nelfinavir, atazanavir, and others
  • anti-seizure drugs carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin can make the body get rid of irinotecan faster
  • TB drugs rifampin and rifabutin
  • St. John's wort (an herbal dietary supplement)

Don't start or stop taking any drugs while you are on irinotecan without talking with your doctor first.

This drug can cause serious diarrhea. Try to avoid laxatives and stool softeners while taking this drug.

There may be more drugs that interact with irinotecan. Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about your other medicines, herbs, and supplements, and whether alcohol can cause problems with this medicine.

Interactions with foods

Grapefruit or grapefruit juice may also change the level of this drug in your blood. Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about whether these or other foods may be a problem.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.


Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments

 

Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.

Characters remaining:

  • Allowed markup: <a> <i> <b> <em> <u> <s> <strong> <code> <pre> <p>
    All other tags will be stripped.