Drug Interactions With Infliximab

When certain medications are taken together, there is a possibility for drug interactions. With infliximab, taking it with "live" vaccinations, anakinra, and etanercept can cause the body to metabolize the medications differently than intended, which can lead to problems. Some of these drug interactions with infliximab can increase your risk of infections or cause you to become infected with the virus or bacteria from the live vaccine.

 

An Overview of Drug Interactions With Infliximab

Infliximab (Remicade®) can potentially interact with a few other medicines. Some of the medicines that may lead to drug interactions with infliximab include:
 
o Chickenpox vaccine (varicella vaccine)
o FluMist® (the nasal vaccine for influenza; the injected vaccine is not live)
o MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella vaccine)
o Smallpox vaccine
o BCG vaccine (used in some countries for tuberculosis).

Infliximab Interactions Explained

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when infliximab is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
 
Anakinra
Taking infliximab with anakinra can increase your risk of infection. In general, these two medications should not be taken together.
 
Etanercept
Taking infliximab with etanercept can increase your risk of infection. In most cases, these two medications should not be taken together.
(Drug Interactions With Infliximab Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;