Benzodiazepines/Macrolide Antibiotics
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:
Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
When these two medicines are taken together, your body may not properly process benzodiazepines.
What might happen:
Your blood levels of benzodiazepine may increase and cause excess drowsiness.
What you should do about this interaction:
If you experience severe drowsiness or confusion, contact your doctor. It may be necessary to adjust the dose of your medicine.Your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) 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.Phillips JP, Antal EJ, Smith RB. A pharmacokinetic drug interaction between erythromycin and triazolam. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1986 Oct; 6(5):297-9.
2.Warot D, Bergougnan L, Lamiable D, Berlin I, Bensimon G, Danjou P, Puech AJ. Troleandomycin-triazolam interaction in healthy volunteers: pharmacokinetic and psychometric evaluation. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1987; 32(4):389-93.
3.Hiller A, Olkkola KT, Isohanni P, Saarnivaara L. Unconsciousness associated with midazolam and erythromycin. Br J Anaesth 1990 Dec; 65(6):826-8.
4.Wood M. Midazolam and erythromycin. Br J Anaesth 1991 Jul;67(1):131.
5.Olkkola KT, Aranko K, Luurila H, Hiller A, Saarnivaara L, Himberg JJ, Neuvonen PJ. A potentially hazardous interaction between erythromycin and midazolam. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1993 Mar;53(3):298-305.
6.Ketek (telithromycin) US prescribing information. Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC December, 2010.
