Drug Interactions With Trastuzumab

When certain medications are taken together, there is a possibility of drug interactions. Trastuzumab can lead to drug interactions if it is taken with anthracyclines, mitoxantrone, or warfarin. Some of these drug interactions with trastuzumab can increase your chance of developing congestive heart failure or bleeding. To prevent these drug interactions, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before combining trastuzumab with any medications.

 

An Overview of Drug Interactions With Trastuzumab

Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) can potentially interact with other medications. Some of these medicines that may lead to trastuzumab drug interactions include:
 
  • Anthracyclines, including:
o Daunorubicin (Cerubidine®, DaunoXome®)
o Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®, Rubex®, Doxil®, Evacet®)
o Idarubicin (Idamycin®)
o Valrubicin (Valstar®) 
  • Mitoxantrone (Novantrone®)
  • Warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®).
    •  

Trastuzumab Interactions Explained

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when trastuzumab is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
 
Anthracyclines
Taking trastuzumab and an anthracycline medication at the same time can increase your risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). These medications should not be taken together.
 
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone)
Taking trastuzumab and mitoxantrone (which is very similar to anthracycline medications) at the same time can increase your risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). These medications should not be taken together.
(Drug Interactions With Trastuzumab Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;