Soolantra (ivermectin) is a prescription topical cream that’s used in adults to treat inflammatory skin lesions caused by rosacea. Soolantra is not known to interact with alcohol, other medications, supplements, or foods.

An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.

When you apply Soolantra to your skin, only a very small amount of the drug is absorbed into your body. Soolantra hasn’t been reported to interact with other drugs. However, this doesn’t mean that interactions aren’t possible.

Because of this, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take before you start using Soolantra. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Soolantra interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Soolantra?” section below.)

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

Soolantra is not known to interact with alcohol. But alcohol can sometimes worsen rosacea, which Soolantra is used to treat.

If alcohol worsens your rosacea symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you don’t consume it while you’re using Soolantra. This can help the drug work more effectively.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol with your condition or treatment plan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Soolantra may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Soolantra.

Does Soolantra interact with supplements?

Before you start using Soolantra, 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.

Soolantra and herbs

There are currently no reports of Soolantra interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs 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 using Soolantra.

Soolantra and vitamins

There are currently no reports of Soolantra 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 using Soolantra.

Does Soolantra interact with food?

There are currently no reports of Soolantra interacting with food. But certain foods can sometimes worsen rosacea symptoms, which Soolantra is used to treat. Examples of these foods include spicy foods, cinnamon, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and chocolate.

If eating certain foods worsens your rosacea symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you avoid these foods while you’re using Soolantra. This can help the medication work more effectively.

If you have questions about eating certain foods during your Soolantra treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does Soolantra interact with vaccines or lab tests?

There are currently no reports of Soolantra interacting with vaccines or lab tests. If you have questions about receiving certain vaccines or having lab tests done during your Soolantra treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does Soolantra interact with cannabis or CBD?

There are currently no reports of Soolantra 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 Soolantra.

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

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Soolantra. Before using Soolantra, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Soolantra is right for you.

Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Soolantra include:

Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Soolantra is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before using Soolantra.

Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Soolantra while breastfeeding. It’s unknown whether the drug passes into breast milk when applied to the skin. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Soolantra or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Soolantra. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Soolantra. 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 (they can also help you fill out a medication list)
  • what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Soolantra treatment

It’s also important to understand Soolantra’s label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. Colored stickers that describe interactions may be on the label. The paperwork (sometimes called the patient package insert or medication guide) may have other details about interactions. (If you did not get paperwork with Soolantra, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you.)

If you have difficulty reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.

Using Soolantra exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.

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.