Does Irinotecan Hydrochloride Interact with Rifapentine?
CDI records a major classification for Irinotecan Hydrochloride and Rifapentine. The stored summary is: Strong CYP3A4 inducer substantially reduces exposure to irinotecan and its active metabolite SN-38. Avoid use or substitute non-enzyme inducing therapies at least 2 weeks prior to initiation. The mechanism involves cyp3a4 enzyme induction. 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
- Rifapentine Class
- Rifamycin Antimycobacterial
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
CYP3A4 enzyme induction
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Irinotecan Hydrochloride and your doctor is considering prescribing Rifapentine (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