Clindamycin and Asciminib: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Jul 11, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Clindamycin
Asciminib
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
Increased CYP3A4 exposure and an increased risk of CYP3A4-related adverse reactions
Interaction Deep Dive
When asciminib, which inhibits CYP3A4, is taken together with a CYP3A4 substrate, exposure to that substrate rises, potentially heightening the likelihood of adverse reactions. In the case of asciminib given alongside the CYP3A4 substrate midazolam, midazolam exposure increased, with AUC(inf) rising by 24% to 88% and Cmax rising by 11% to 58%. For CYP3A4 substrates in which even small concentration changes could produce serious adverse reactions, do not combine them with asciminib 200 mg twice daily. When patients take a total daily asciminib dose of 80 mg/day together with such a CYP3A4 substrate, where minor concentration shifts may result in serious adverse reactions, monitor closely for adverse reactions1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of CYP3A4-substrate metabolism by asciminib
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) When asciminib 40 mg twice daily was given together with midazolam (a CYP3A4 substrate), the midazolam AUC(inf) rose by 28% and its Cmax rose by 11%. With asciminib 80 mg once daily, the midazolam AUC(inf) and Cmax rose by 24% and 17%, respectively, and with asciminib 200 mg twice daily, the midazolam AUC(inf) and Cmax rose by 88% and 58%, respectively 1.
Common questions
Can I take Clindamycin and Asciminib together?
Increased CYP3A4 exposure and an increased risk of CYP3A4-related adverse reactions Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Clindamycin and Asciminib interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Clindamycin or Asciminib need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (1)
- Product Information: SCEMBLIX® oral tablets, asciminib oral tablets. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (per FDA), East Hanover, NJ, 2025. DailyMed
Keep reading about Clindamycin
Keep reading about Asciminib
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Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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