What drug, if taken with corticosteroids, may lead to possible toxic effects?

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The drug that may lead to possible toxic effects when taken with corticosteroids is erythromycin. Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that can inhibit certain liver enzymes responsible for drug metabolism, particularly cytochrome P450 enzymes. When co-administered with corticosteroids, which are metabolized by these pathways, erythromycin can increase the plasma concentration of corticosteroids, enhancing their effects and potentially leading to toxicity.

Corticosteroids can cause a variety of side effects, particularly at higher doses, such as elevated blood sugar levels, fluid retention, and increased infection risk. If erythromycin is causing higher levels of corticosteroids in the bloodstream, these side effects can be exacerbated, leading to increased risk of adverse reactions.

The other options, while they may interact with corticosteroids in their own ways, do not typically lead to the same level of toxicity. Phenytoin, for example, can actually decrease the effectiveness of corticosteroids by inducing liver enzymes, whereas phenobarbital is similar in effect to phenytoin. Aspirin, while it may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding when taken with corticosteroids, does not typically lead to systemic toxic effects in the same manner as erythromycin does with regard to corticosteroid levels

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