Does Erlotinib Interact with Famotidine?
CDI records a major classification for Erlotinib and Famotidine. The stored summary is: Famotidine reduces gastric acidity and may significantly reduce erlotinib absorption. See prescribing information for administration instructions. The mechanism involves reduced gastric ph-dependent absorption. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Major
- Erlotinib Class
- Kinase Inhibitor
- Famotidine Class
- Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Reduced gastric pH-dependent absorption
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Erlotinib and your doctor is considering prescribing Famotidine (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider