Tagrisso (osimertinib) is a prescription drug that treats a certain lung cancer. It comes as an oral tablet. This drug can interact with some medications and supplements. For example, Tagrisso can interact with certain antibiotics.
Tagrisso is prescribed to adults to treat specific types of non-small cell lung cancer that are epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) positive.*
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions also can occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Tagrisso’s possible interactions. And for more information about Tagrisso, including details about its uses, see this article.
* EGFR is a protein. “EGFR positive” means the cancer has an irregular change in a gene that affects this protein.
Before you start taking Tagrisso, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Tagrisso interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Tagrisso?” section below.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Tagrisso. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Tagrisso. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| certain seizure medications | • carbamazepine (Tegretol, others) • phenobarbital • phenytoin (Dilantin) | can make Tagrisso less effective |
| antiarrhythmics | • amiodarone (Pacerone) • disopyramide (Norpace) • dronedarone (Multaq) | can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm from Tagrisso or the antiarrhythmic |
| certain antipsychotics | • aripiprazole (Abilify) • haloperidol (Haldol) • quetiapine (Seroquel) | can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm from Tagrisso or the antipsychotic |
| certain antibiotics | • azithromycin (Zithromax) • ciprofloxacin (Cipro) • clarithromycin • moxifloxacin | can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm from Tagrisso or the antibiotic |
| certain antidepressants | • citalopram (Celexa) • clomipramine (Anafranil) • escitalopram (Lexapro) | can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm from Tagrisso or the antidepressant |
| certain antisickness medications | • dolasetron (Anzemet) • ondansetron (Zofran) | can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm from Tagrisso or the antisickness medication |
| certain blood thinners | • dabigatran (Pradaxa) • edoxaban (Savaysa) | can increase the risk of the blood thinner’s side effects |
| rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) | – | can make Tagrisso less effective |
| loperamide (Imodium) | – | can increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm from Tagrisso or loperamide |
Tagrisso may have other interactions. They could occur with foods, supplements, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other interactions possible with Tagrisso.
Does Tagrisso interact with food?
Tagrisso currently has no reports of interacting with food. So there are no foods to avoid while you’re taking this medication. If you have questions about eating certain foods during treatment with Tagrisso, talk with your doctor.
Does Tagrisso interact with supplements?
Before you start taking Tagrisso, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Tagrisso interactions with herbs
Tagrisso can interact with St. John’s wort, which some people take to help treat depression and other conditions.
A certain enzyme (type of protein) in the body breaks down Tagrisso. But St. John’s wort can speed up that breakdown. Doing so can cause Tagrisso to clear from your body faster than it should. This can make Tagrisso less effective at treating your lung cancer.
You should avoid taking St. John’s wort during your Tagrisso treatment. Your doctor may be able to recommend an alternative supplement that doesn’t interact with Tagrisso.
Tagrisso and vitamins
Tagrisso currently has no reports of interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Tagrisso.
Does Tagrisso interact with vaccines?
Tagrisso currently has no reports of interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Tagrisso treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Tagrisso interact with lab tests?
Tagrisso currently has no reports of interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Tagrisso, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Tagrisso interact with cannabis or CBD?
Tagrisso currently has no reports of interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Tagrisso.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Tagrisso is not known to interact with alcohol. But Tagrisso and alcohol can cause some similar side effects,* such as nausea and diarrhea. So you may be more likely to experience them if you drink alcohol during your Tagrisso treatment.
Drinking alcohol also may irritate mouth sores, which are a possible side effect of Tagrisso.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while taking Tagrisso, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* To learn more about Tagrisso’s side effects, see this article.
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Tagrisso and possible interactions.
Is there an interaction between Tagrisso and steroids?
No, Tagrisso has no known interaction with corticosteroids, which are also called steroids.
Doctors prescribe Tagrisso to treat a certain type of lung cancer. They prescribe steroids for various conditions that involve inflammation (swelling) in any part of your body. It’s not uncommon for doctors to prescribe these drugs together.
If you have questions about taking Tagrisso with steroids, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is it safe to take Tylenol with Tagrisso?
Yes, it should be safe to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) with Tagrisso. There is currently no known interaction between these drugs.
Doctors prescribe Tagrisso to treat a certain type of lung cancer. Tylenol relieves mild to moderate pain, such as from a headache. It also reduces fever. It’s not uncommon for doctors to recommend Tylenol during Tagrisso treatment.
If you have other questions about taking Tagrisso and Tylenol together, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Tagrisso.
Interaction with certain antibiotics
Tagrisso can interact with certain antibiotics that treat infections caused by bacteria.
Examples of antibiotics that can interact with Tagrisso include:
- azithromycin (Zithromax)
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- clarithromycin
- moxifloxacin
What could happen
Tagrisso and certain antibiotics both can cause a condition called long QT syndrome. Taking these drugs together can raise your risk of this side effect.
Long QT syndrome can cause a serious or even life threatening irregular heart rhythm.
If you have a heart condition, taking Tagrisso with certain antibiotics may increase your risk of long QT syndrome. If you have an electrolyte imbalance, you also may have a higher risk of this side effect. This imbalance means the amounts of certain minerals in your body are too high or too low. Examples are low potassium and magnesium levels.
What you can do
Your doctor likely will avoid prescribing certain antibiotics while you’re taking Tagrisso.
Even so, they might have you take Tagrisso with an antibiotic that interacts with it in some situations. If so, you should not take a dose of either medication higher than your doctor prescribes. Your doctor likely will monitor your electrolyte levels and heart rhythm.
While taking these, tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of irregular heart rhythm. These may include the following:
- heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing, pounding, or skipping beats)
- dizziness
- feeling lightheaded
- fainting
If you have questions about taking Tagrisso with an antibiotic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with certain seizure medications
Tagrisso can interact with certain seizure medications, which are prescribed to treat seizure disorders such as epilepsy. Some are also prescribed to treat bipolar disorder or certain types of nerve pain.
Examples of seizure medications that can interact with Tagrisso are:
- carbamazepine (Tegretol, others)
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin (Dilantin)
What could happen
Certain seizure medications can speed up the action of an enzyme in your body. This enzyme is a type of protein that breaks down Tagrisso. Taking Tagrisso with one of these medications can cause Tagrisso to be cleared from your body faster than usual. This can make Tagrisso less effective at treating your lung cancer.
What you can do
Tell your doctor if you take seizure medications. If you take certain ones, your doctor will likely prescribe a Tagrisso dosage that’s higher than usual. If you stop taking the seizure medication, your doctor will likely readjust your Tagrisso dosage. Be sure to always follow the Tagrisso dosage that your doctor prescribes.
Interaction with loperamide
Tagrisso can interact with loperamide (Imodium), which is taken to treat diarrhea.
What could happen
Taking Tagrisso with loperamide can cause loperamide to build up in your body. This can raise your risk of loperamide’s side effects, such as constipation or headache.
Also, Tagrisso and loperamide both can cause a condition called long QT syndrome. Taking these drugs together can raise your risk of this side effect.
Long QT syndrome can cause a serious or even life threatening irregular heart rhythm.
If you have a heart condition, you may have a higher risk of long QT syndrome if you take Tagrisso with loperamide. If you have an electrolyte imbalance, you also may have a higher risk of this side effect. This imbalance means certain minerals in your body are too high or too low. Examples are low potassium and magnesium levels.
What you can do
You should talk with your doctor before taking loperamide with Tagrisso. If your doctor recommends taking loperamide during Tagrisso treatment, they may also recommend taking an oral rehydration liquid solution. This helps prevent electrolyte imbalances that can occur with diarrhea.
If you take Tagrisso and loperamide together, your doctor may monitor your electrolyte levels and heart rhythm. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of irregular heart rhythm. These may include the following:
- heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing, pounding, or skipping beats)
- dizziness
- feeling lightheaded
- fainting
If you have questions about taking Tagrisso with loperamide, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Tagrisso. Before taking Tagrisso, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Tagrisso is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Tagrisso include the following.
Heart problems: Tagrisso can cause long QT syndrome. This is an irregular heart rhythm that can cause a life threatening irregular heartbeat. If you have certain heart problems, your risk of long QT syndrome may be higher. These include heart failure or an irregular heartbeat. Tagrisso also can worsen heart failure.
If you have a heart problem, talk with your doctor about whether Tagrisso is safe for you.
Electrolyte disturbances: If you have an electrolyte imbalance, you may have an increased risk of an irregular heartbeat while taking Tagrisso. This imbalance means certain minerals in your body are too high or too low. Your doctor will likely monitor your electrolyte levels during your Tagrisso treatment. If needed, they may prescribe medication to correct any electrolyte imbalance.
Low blood cell counts: If you have a low red cell, white blood cell, or platelet count, Tagrisso could make it worse. Your doctor will likely monitor your blood cells during Tagrisso treatment.
Severe kidney or liver problems: If you have severe kidney or liver problems, your doctor may not prescribe Tagrisso. The drug hasn’t been studied in people who have severe kidney or liver problems. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Lung or breathing problems: Rarely, Tagrisso may cause side effects related to the lungs. In extreme cases, these may be life threatening or deadly. If you have a lung condition such as asthma, you may be at higher risk of side effects related to the lungs from Tagrisso. Tagrisso could also worsen the symptoms of your condition.
Pregnancy: Tagrisso is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Tagrisso, and you should continue using it for 6 weeks after your last dose.
If you’re male* and your sexual partner is able to become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Tagrisso, and you should continue using it for 4 months after your last dose.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Tagrisso while breastfeeding. But because of the potential for adverse effects, you should not breastfeed while taking Tagrisso. You also should not breastfeed for 2 weeks after your last dose.
If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor about other ways to feed your child during treatment.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Tagrisso or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely will not prescribe Tagrisso. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
* In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Tagrisso. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a
medication list . - What to do if you start taking a new drug during your Tagrisso treatment.
It’s also important to understand Tagrisso’s
If you have difficulty reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Tagrisso exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
If you still have questions about Tagrisso and its possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Can I still take Tagrisso if I have a heart condition?
- Will I need extra monitoring if I take Tagrisso and a drug that interacts with it?
- Do other drugs that could treat my condition have similar interactions?
To learn more about Tagrisso, see these articles:
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.