Ketoconazole increases the AUC of
imatinib by 40%.
Macrolides such as
erythromycin and
clarithromycin are, like
ketoconazole, inhibitors of CYP3A4. The manufacturers of
imatinib therefore predict that the
macrolides will raise
imatinib levels.
It is not clear what action should be taken as information about the effects of increased
imatinib levels is limited. Other
macrolides may also interact, although it seems unlikely that they all will, see
macrolides.