Thursday July 1, 2010


Q: 34 year old male with previous history of lung transplant is admitted to ICU with sepsis. Patient is recovering well but continue to have persistent ileus. Junior resident wrote for erythromycin to increase GI motility. What need to be watch in this patient?



Answer: Tacrolimus level

Tacrolimus has clinically major drug interactions with erythromycin, dilantin and rifampin. Erythromycin may increase Tacrolimus to toxic level. It is recommended that concurrent administration of erythromycin and tacrolimus be avoided. However, if concomitant therapy is necessary, tacrolimus concentrations should be monitored.

Other significant interactions Tacrolimus may have is with amphotericin, barbiturates, calcium channel blockers, itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, cyclosporine, and cimetidine.