Drug Interaction Report

Talk to your doctor before using lapatinib together with clarithromycin. Combining these medications may significantly increase the blood levels of lapatinib. This can make you more likely to develop side effects such as diarrhea, liver damage, and heart problems including decreased pumping of blood from the heart and abnormal heart rhythm. Call your doctor immediately if you have fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, itching, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark colored urine, light colored stools, and/or yellowing of the skin or eyes, as these may be signs and symptoms of liver damage. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or fast or pounding heartbeats during treatment with lapatinib. You may not be able to take lapatinib during treatment with clarithromycin, or you may need a dose adjustment and/or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Take lapatinib on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 1 hour after a meal unless otherwise directed by your doctor. This will make it easier for your body to absorb the medication. The lapatinib dose is administered once daily and should not be divided. The usual dose of lapatinib is equal to 5 tablets. You may swallow each tablet one at a time, but take the entire lapatinib dose at the same time each day. If you are receiving therapy with lapatinib you should be advised to avoid grapefruits and grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can raise the levels of lapatinib in your body and lead to dangerous side effects.

Information for this minor interaction is available on the professional version.