Drug Interactions With Paclitaxel

A number of medications may cause drug interactions with paclitaxel, including rifamycin antibiotics, protease inhibitors, and certain anticonvulsants. These interactions can increase the level of paclitaxel in your blood and increase your risk of developing potentially negative side effects. If drug interactions with paclitaxel are a concern, your healthcare provider may advise you to avoid certain medications or adjust your dosages.

 

Drug Interactions With Paclitaxel: An Overview

Paclitaxel (Taxol®) can potentially interact with other medications. Some of the medicines that may lead to paclitaxel interactions include:
 
  • Certain antibiotics or antifungals, including:
o Clarithromycin (Biaxin®)
o Erythromycin (Ery-Tab®)
o Isoniazid (Nydrazid®)
o Itraconazole (Sporanox®)
o Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
o Miconazole
o Telithromycin (Ketek®)
  • Certain anticonvulsants, including:
o Carbamazepine (Epitol®, Equetro™, Tegretol®, Tegretol XR®)
o Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx®)
o Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
o Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
  • "Live" vaccinations, including:
o Chickenpox vaccine (varicella vaccine)
o FluMist® (the nasal vaccine for influenza; the injected vaccine is not live)
o MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella vaccine)
o Smallpox vaccine
o BCG vaccine (used in some countries for tuberculosis)
  • Protease inhibitors, such as:
  • Rifamycin antibiotics, including rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampin (Rifadin®), and rifapentine (Priftin®).
     
(Drug Interactions With Paclitaxel Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;