Epirubicin/Cimetidine
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Severe. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
How this interaction occurs is not known.
What might happen:
The amount of epirubicin in your blood may increase and cause serious side effects.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. Your doctor may want to change your cimetidine to another medicine. Let your doctor know if you have any fever, vomiting, dizziness, decreased urination, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the legs and/or feet.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Murray LS, Jodrell DI, Morrison JG, Cook A, Kerr DJ, Whiting B, Kaye SB, Cassidy J. The effect of cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics of epirubicin in patients with advanced breast cancer: preliminary evidence of a potentially common drug interaction. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 1998; 10(1):35-8.
2.Ellence (epirubicin hydrochloride) US prescribing information. Pharmacia Corporation February, 2013.
