Docetaxel Injection and Telithromycin: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Telithromycin
No brand names on recordDocetaxel Injection
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 DOCEtaxel exposure
Interaction Deep Dive
Avoid coadministration of DOCEtaxel with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor as it may increase DOCEtaxel exposure. In a pharmacokinetic study with ketoconazole (a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor), coadministration of DOCEtaxel 10 mg/m(2) (lower than usual dosage) resulted in significantly increased DOCEtaxel exposure and reduced DOCEtaxel clearance. Although DOCEtaxel dosage adjustment has not been specifically studied with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, consider a 50% reduction in DOCEtaxel dose and closely monitoring for DOCEtaxel toxicity, also consider DOCEtaxel dose reduction if systemic administration of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor cannot be avoided12.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of DOCEtaxel
Literature reports
2 reports — tap to read
a) In a phase 2 pharmacokinetic study comparing DOCEtaxel administration with or without ketoconazole, a DOCEtaxel 70 mg flat dose administered with ketoconazole produced similar mean pharmacokinetic values (AUC, 3.93 vs 3.77 mg/L x hour; Cmax, 2.53 vs 2.68 mg/L; half-life, 13.46 vs 12.25 hours, and Vd, 12.59 vs 14.92 L, for DOCEtaxel with ketoconazole and DOCEtaxel alone, respectively) compared with a DOCEtaxel dose of 75 mg/m(2) alone in female patients, mainly of Chinese or Malay descent. The clearance of DOCEtaxel was significantly reduced in patients coadministered ketoconazole compared with those receiving DOCEtaxel alone (22.05 +/- 8.29 vs 36.52 +/- 13.39 L/hr; p less than 0.001). For this study, chemo naive women with advanced or metastatic breast cancer received a single dose of DOCEtaxel 70 mg IV over 1 hour in combination with ketoconazole 200 mg twice daily for 3 days, starting 2 days before DOCEtaxel administration (n=31; mean age, 49.5 years, mean BSA 1.57 m(2)) or a single dose of DOCEtaxel 75 mg/m(2) IV administered over 1 hour (n=101; mean age, 49.9 years, mean BSA 1.57 m(2)). All patients received premedication with oral dexamethasone and ondansetron 3.
b) In a pharmacokinetic study with ketoconazole 200 mg/day for 3 days (N=7; a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor) given with DOCEtaxel 10 mg/m(2) (lower than usual dosage) there was a 2.2-fold increase in DOCEtaxel AUC and a reduction in DOCEtaxel clearance by 49% 12.
Common questions
Can I take Docetaxel Injection and Telithromycin together?
Increased DOCEtaxel exposure Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Docetaxel Injection and Telithromycin interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "rapid". Effects can appear quickly, often within about 24 hours of combining the drugs.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Docetaxel Injection or Telithromycin 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 (3)
- Product Information: TAXOTERE intravenous injection, docetaxel intravenous injection. sanofi-aventis US LLC (per FDA), Bridgewater, NJ, 2023. DailyMed
- Product Information: DOCETAXEL anhydrous injection, docetaxel anhydrous injection. Sagent Pharmaceuticals (Per DailyMed), Schaumburg, IL, 2025. DailyMed
- Lim YW, Goh BC, Wang LZ, et al: Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of docetaxel with or without ketoconazole modulation in chemonaive breast cancer patients. Ann Oncol 2010; 21(11):2175-2182. PubMed
Keep reading about Telithromycin
Keep reading about Docetaxel Injection
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