Lynparza interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Lynparza, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Lynparza interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Lynparza and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Lynparza. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Lynparza. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

* To learn about Lynparza’s side effects, see this article.
† Lynparza is a type of cancer drug called a poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor.

There are no known interactions between Lynparza and alcohol.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Lynparza, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Lynparza.

Certain antifungals

Antifungals are drugs prescribed to treat fungal infections.

Interaction result. Taking Lynparza with certain antifungals can raise your risk of side effects from Lynparza.

Interaction explained. Your body uses an enzyme called CYP3A to break down Lynparza. (An enzyme is a type of protein.)

Certain antifungals can slow the activity of this enzyme. Taking Lynparza with these antifungals could slow the breakdown of Lynparza. This may cause high levels of Lynparza in your body, raising your risk of side effects with the drug. To learn more about Lynparza’s side effects, see this article.

Examples of antifungals. Here are some antifungals that may interact with Lynparza:

• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• itraconazole (Sporanox)
• ketoconazole

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you have an infection that needs treatment with an antifungal while you’re taking Lynparza, talk with your doctor. Be sure they know that you’re taking Lynparza. Your doctor can recommend an antifungal that doesn’t interact with the drug.

Your specific fungal infection may require treatment with an antifungal that interacts with Lynparza. In this case, your doctor may temporarily lower your dosage of Lynparza during antifungal treatment. Doing so will help lower your risk of side effects from Lynparza. For details about Lynparza’s dosage, see this article.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about Lynparza and antifungals.

Certain antibiotics

Antibiotics are drugs prescribed to treat bacterial infections.

Interaction result. Taking Lynparza with certain antibiotics can increase the risk of side effects from Lynparza.

Interaction explained. Your body breaks down Lynparza by using an enzyme called CYP3A. (An enzyme is a type of protein.)

Certain antibiotics slow the activity of this enzyme. Taking Lynparza with these antibiotics could cause a higher level of Lynparza to remain in your body. This can raise your risk of side effects from Lynparza. To learn more about Lynparza’s side effects, see this article.

Examples of antibiotics. Here are some antibiotics that may interact with Lynparza:

• ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• clarithromycin
• erythromycin (Ery-Tab, EryPed, others)

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you need an antibiotic while you’re taking Lynparza, talk with your doctor. Be sure they know you’re taking Lynparza. They can prescribe one that doesn’t interact with the drug.

It’s possible that your specific infection will require treatment with an antibiotic that interacts with Lynparza. In this case, your doctor may temporarily lower your Lynparza dosage while you take the antibiotic. Doing so will help reduce your risk of side effects from the drug. For details about Lynparza’s dosage, see this article.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about Lynparza and antibiotics.

Certain other cancer drugs

Cancer drugs are prescribed to treat specific cancers.

Lynparza is a type of cancer drug called a poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor. Doctors prescribe it for certain cancers of the ovaries, breasts, pancreas, and prostate.

Interaction result. Taking Lynparza with certain cancer drugs could make Lynparza less effective. Other cancer drugs can increase the risk of side effects from Lynparza.

Interaction explained. An enzyme called CYP3A breaks down Lynparza in your body. (An enzyme is a type of protein.)

Certain cancer drugs speed up the activity of this enzyme. If you take Lynparza with a cancer drug that speeds up the activity of CYP3A, Lynparza may leave your body more quickly. This can lower the level of Lynparza, which could make the drug less effective for your condition.

Other cancer drugs slow down the activity of this enzyme. Taking Lynparza with these cancer drugs could cause a higher level of Lynparza to remain in your body. This can raise your risk of side effects from Lynparza. To learn more about Lynparza’s side effects, see this article.

In addition, both Lynparza and certain cancer drugs can lower levels of certain blood cells. This can increase your risk of side effects, including infection and bleeding. These risks are even higher when you take Lynparza with other cancer drugs.

Examples of cancer drugs. Here are some cancer drugs that may interact with Lynparza:

• idelalisib (Zydelig)
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• sotorasib (Lumakras)

Steps you or your doctor may take. Your doctor can determine whether it’s safe to take Lynparza with other cancer drugs.

In some cases, your doctor may increase your Lynparza dosage while you take other cancer medications. For details about Lynparza’s dosage, see this article.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about Lynparza and other cancer drugs.

Lynparza may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Lynparza.

Lynparza interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Lynparza, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Lynparza interactions with herbs

St. John’s wort has been reported to interact with Lynparza. Some people use this herb to ease symptoms of depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort could cause your body to break down Lynparza faster than usual. This could lower the level of Lynparza in your body, making the drug less effective.

Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend avoiding St. John’s wort while taking Lynparza. Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal supplements during Lynparza treatment.

Lynparza and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Lynparza. However, that does not mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Lynparza.

Lynparza interactions with food

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice have been reported to interact with Lynparza. These products may prevent your body from breaking down Lynparza as usual. This can raise the level of Lynparza in your body, increasing your risk of side effects from the drug. For details about Lynparza’s side effects, see this article.

Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend avoiding grapefruit products while taking Lynparza.

If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Lynparza, talk with your doctor.

Lynparza interactions with vaccines

Vaccines for COVID-19 (Comirnaty, Spikevax) and cholera (Vaxchora) have been reported to interact with Lynparza.

Lynparza may lower the activity of your immune system. These vaccines work by helping your immune system recognize COVID-19 and cholera. Receiving these vaccines while taking Lynparza could make them less effective at protecting against infection.

Before starting Lynparza treatment, talk with your doctor about your vaccine history. They can recommend whether you need a vaccine for COVID-19 or cholera. To help the vaccines be more effective, your doctor may give them before prescribing Lynparza. Your doctor can also tell you whether it’s safe to have other vaccines during Lynparza treatment.

Lynparza and lab tests

There are no specific reports of lab tests interacting with Lynparza. To learn more about getting certain lab tests while taking Lynparza, talk with your doctor.

LYNPARZA AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Lynparza. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Lynparza. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Lynparza treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Lynparza. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Lynparza may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Lynparza include:

• Liver or kidney problems. Before starting Lynparza treatment, tell your doctor if you have a liver or kidney problem. Examples include liver failure and kidney failure. Your doctor can recommend whether it’s safe to take Lynparza. For certain kidney problems, they may prescribe a lower dosage of the drug. For details about Lynparza’s dosage, see this article.
• Low blood cell levels. Before taking Lynparza, your doctor may check your blood cell levels with a blood test. If you have low blood cell levels, your doctor may not prescribe Lynparza. This is because the drug could lower your blood cell levels even further. Your doctor may wait to start Lynparza treatment until your blood cells return to a usual range.
• Pregnancy. It’s likely not safe to take Lynparza during pregnancy. The drug may cause harm to a fetus. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before you start Lynparza treatment. For details, see the “Lynparza and pregnancy” section in this article.
• Breastfeeding. It’s unknown whether Lynparza passes into breast milk or causes side effects in a child who’s breastfed. To be safe, your doctor is likely to recommend that you avoid breastfeeding during Lynparza treatment. You’ll need to wait until at least 1 month after your last dose before breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking Lynparza.
• Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Lynparza or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lynparza. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Lynparza. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Lynparza label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Lynparza doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Lynparza by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Lynparza. These resources might help:

• Overview of Lynparza. For a general overview of Lynparza, see this article.
• Side effects. If you’re interested in the side effects of Lynparza, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Lynparza prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics. To learn about the dosage of Lynparza, see this article.
• Cost. If you’d like to learn about Lynparza and cost, see this article.
• Facts about your condition. To learn more about your condition, refer to our breast cancer hub and articles about:
  • ovarian cancer
  • pancreatic cancer
  • prostate cancer

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.