Drug & supplement interaction

Dolomite + Retapamulin

Retapamulin brand names: Altabax, Altargo.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Retapamulin falls into 2 drug categories that Dolomite can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, the magnesium in dolomite might decrease the absorption of quinolone antibiotics.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Dolomite and Retapamulin

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Dolomite interacts with whole categories of medication. Retapamulin falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Dolomite in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

QUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Retapamulin

Retapamulin falls under QUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS — the group Dolomite interacts with.

Theoretically, the magnesium in dolomite might decrease the absorption of quinolone antibiotics.
Dolomite contains magnesium, which can form insoluble complexes with quinolones in the gut. Advise patients to take oral quinolones at least 2 hours before or 4-6 hours after dolomite.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's some good news that should put your mind at ease. The interaction on file is about oral quinolone antibiotics, where the magnesium in dolomite can bind to the antibiotic in your gut and keep it from being absorbed. But Retapamulin (Altabax) is completely different. It's a cream you rub on your skin to treat impetigo, and it isn't a quinolone at all.

Because you apply it topically and very little gets into your bloodstream, taking dolomite by mouth shouldn't change how well Retapamulin works on your skin. This worry really only applies to swallowed quinolone pills. Still, if you have any questions about dolomite itself (heavy metal concerns are a real reason to consider a safer calcium or magnesium product), check with your pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Murry JJ, Healy MD. Drug-mineral interactions: a new responsibility for the hospital dietician. J Am Diet Assoc 1991;91:66-73.
  2. Pletz MW, Petzold P, Allen A, et al. Effect of calcium carbonate on bioavailability of orally administered gemifloxacin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2003;47:2158-60.. PubMed
Moderate

TETRACYCLINE ANTIBIOTICS

2 of 2

Retapamulin also falls under TETRACYCLINE ANTIBIOTICS.

Theoretically, the calcium and magnesium in dolomite might decrease the absorption of tetracycline antibiotics.
Dolomite contains calcium and magnesium, which can bind to tetracyclines in the gut. To avoid this interaction, advise patients to take oral tetracyclines at least 2 hours before or 4-6 hours after dolomite.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the good news on this one: the interaction on file is about oral tetracycline antibiotics, where the calcium and magnesium in dolomite can bind to the drug in your gut and keep your body from absorbing it. That binding really only matters for pills you swallow.

Retapamulin (Altabax) is different. It's a topical ointment that you spread on the skin to treat impetigo, and it isn't truly a tetracycline at all. Since it never travels through your stomach, there's nothing for the minerals in dolomite to grab onto, so this particular interaction doesn't really apply here. You can keep using your ointment as directed. That said, dolomite itself can carry traces of heavy metals like lead, so if you want a calcium or magnesium supplement, ask your pharmacist about a cleaner, better-tested option.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Dolomite Also Interacts With Other Medications

Dolomite has 56 major, 71 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Retapamulin one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 56 Moderate 71 No known interaction 2,703 (incl. Retapamulin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Dolomite

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Dolomite. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Retapamulin

This page covers Dolomite only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Retapamulin page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Oleander (major), Para-aminobenzoic Acid (paba) (major), Acerola (moderate), Alpha-lipoic Acid (moderate) and Bacillus Coagulans (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 71 moderate · 8 minor.

Open the Retapamulin interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Dolomite as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 3 real supplement products containing Dolomite, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Dolomite. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Retapamulin too, on top of Dolomite — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Dolomite and Retapamulin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Dolomite
Top half

#685 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Retapamulin
Steady interest

#2,564 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Dolomite

What is Dolomite?

Dolomite
  • Source of calcium
  • Source of magnesium
  • Bone health support
  • Antacid for heartburn
  • Mineral supplementation

Dolomite is a natural mineral that provides both calcium and magnesium. However, many health authorities advise against using it because dolomite products have been found to contain heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury, and safer, better-tested calcium and magnesium supplements are widely available.

Read the full Dolomite monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Retapamulin

What Is Retapamulin Used For?

Brand names: Altabax, Altargo

  • Retapamulin is used to treat impetigo (a skin infection caused by bacteria) in children and adults. Retapamulin is in a class of medications called antibacterials. It works by killing and stopping the growth of bacteria on the skin.

See full Retapamulin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Dolomite

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Dolomite — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

56Major
71Moderate
0Minor
2,702No known interaction
56 Major 71 Moderate 2,702 No interaction
Major

56 interactions

Moderate

71 interactions

Showing 60 of 71 moderate interactions — see all 71 on the Dolomite page.

No interaction 2,702 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Dolomite against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,702 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Dolomite list.

See the full Dolomite interactions page
See every supplement checked against Retapamulin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Dolomite monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Retapamulin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Retapamulin, ranked by severity Retapamulin drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dolomite and Retapamulin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Dolomite with Retapamulin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Dolomite and Retapamulin?
Retapamulin belongs to more than one drug category, and Dolomite interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Dolomite and Retapamulin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Retapamulin and Dolomite?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.