What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Carbamazepine and erythromycin
Carbamazepine's FDA label of August 20, 2026 names erythromycin in its drug interactions section, and erythromycin's label names carbamazepine too. The carbamazepine label: “Drugs that have been shown, or would be expected, to increase plasma carbamazepine levels include aprepitant, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, danazol, diltiazem, macrolides, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, trazodone, omeprazole …”
Check it at the source: the carbamazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 20, 2026, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation); the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the carbamazepine label say about erythromycin?
Carbamazepine label, drug interactionsDrugs that have been shown, or would be expected, to increase plasma carbamazepine levels include aprepitant, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, danazol, diltiazem, macrolides (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin), fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, trazodone, omeprazole, oxybutynin, isoniazid, niacinamide (nicotinamide), azoles (e.g., ketaconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole), acetazolamide, verapamil, ticlopidine, grapefruit juice, and protease inhibitors.
Carbatrol label (Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., August 17, 2026), drug interactionsAcetazolamide, aprepitant, azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole), cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, dalfopristin, danazol, dantrolene, delavirdine, diltiazem, erythromycin, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, grapefruit juice, ibuprofen, isoniazid, loratadine, macrolides, nefazodone, niacinamide, nicotinamide, olanzapine, omeprazole, oxybutynin, protease inhibitors, propoxyphene, quinine, quinupristin, ticlopidine, troleandomycin, valproate, verapamil, zileuton.
Equetro label (Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC, August 19, 2025), drug interactionsThe following drugs are CYP3A4 inhibitors: Acetazolamide, aprepitant, azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole ), cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, dalfopristin, danazol, dantrolene, delavirdine, diltiazem, erythromycin, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, grapefruit juice, ibuprofen, isoniazid, loratadine, nefazodone, niacinamide, nicotinamide, olanzapine, omeprazole, oxybutynin, quinine, quinupristin, ticlopidine, troleandomycin, valproate, verapamil, zileuton.
Source: FDA drug label (Carbatrol, NDA020712), Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., effective August 17, 2026 (SPL set bc03e499-5bac-4293-bff4-6864153a624d), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Equetro, NDA021710), Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC, effective August 19, 2025 (SPL set be478f3c-40f6-47cc-8ab9-f420a9372b1c), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Tegretol), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, effective August 20, 2026 (SPL set 8d409411-aa9f-4f3a-a52c-fbcb0c3ec053), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the erythromycin label say about carbamazepine?
Erythromycin label, drug interactionsThere have been spontaneous or published reports of CYP3A based interactions of erythromycin with cyclosporine, carbamazepine, tacrolimus, alfentanil, disopyramide, rifabutin, quinidine, methyl-prednisolone, cilostazol, vinblastine, and bromocriptine.
Ery-Ped label (Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Arbor Pharmaceuticals), December 16, 2023), drug interactionsReduction of sildenafil dosage should be considered. (See Viagra package insert.) There have been spontaneous or published reports of CYP3A based interactions of erythromycin with cyclosporine, carbamazepine, tacrolimus, alfentanil, disopyramide, rifabutin, quinidine, methylprednisolone, cilostazol, vinblastine, and bromocriptine.
Erythromycin label (Dr. Reddy's Labratories Inc., September 25, 2025), drug interactionsReduction of sildenafil dosage should be considered. (See Viagra package insert.) There have been spontaneous or published reports of CYP3A based interactions of erythromycin with carbamazepine, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, alfentanil, disopyramide, bromocriptine, rifabutin, quinidine methylprednisolone, cilostazol, and vinblastine.
Source: FDA drug label (Ery-Ped, NDA050207), Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Arbor Pharmaceuticals), effective December 16, 2023 (SPL set 04775721-ab87-4b66-808c-d67a21032385), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Erythromycin, NDA050536), Dr. Reddy's Labratories Inc., effective September 25, 2025 (SPL set a2dcb48a-212c-1b0c-ec35-ee2ade85847f), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Erythromycin), Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective August 1, 2024 (SPL set 75a0bd5a-d09f-483b-bfd8-f8343b149eb2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Carbamazepine | Erythromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bipolar disorder, Seizures and epilepsy | Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.119 per tablet 200 mg tablet | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once