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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Erlotinib and rifampin

Erlotinib's FDA label of June 10, 2024 names rifampin in its drug interactions section; the rifampin label PlainMeds reads does not name erlotinib. The erlotinib label: “Increase the erlotinib dosage if co-administration with CYP3A4 inducers is unavoidable.”

Check it at the source: the erlotinib FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 10, 2024, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited); the rifampin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 11, 2026, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).

What does the erlotinib label say about rifampin?

Erlotinib label, drug interactions

Increase the erlotinib dosage if co-administration with CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, phenobarbital and St. John's wort) is unavoidable [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].

Source: FDA drug label (ERLOTINIB HYDROCHLORIDE), Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited, effective June 10, 2024 (SPL set ab6f3cb3-34a8-4492-a5d7-fb6b055a2d6b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the rifampin label say about erlotinib?

Rifampin's label (effective February 11, 2026) does not name erlotinib in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (rifampin), Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective February 11, 2026 (SPL set b56004f0-f23d-47f6-80c7-39884fccbccc), 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

10Erlotinib generic labelers
13Rifampin generic labelers
ErlotinibRifampin
Labeled forLung cancern/a
Boxed warningNoNo
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)n/a$0.679 per capsule 300 mg capsule
Shortage nowNo current entryIn shortage

Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)

What next?