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Drug Interactions between arsenic trioxide and dextromethorphan / promethazine

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

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Interactions between your drugs

Major

promethazine arsenic trioxide

Applies to: dextromethorphan / promethazine and arsenic trioxide

GENERALLY AVOID: Arsenic trioxide can cause QT interval prolongation and complete atrioventricular block. Theoretically, coadministration with other agents that can prolong the QT interval may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes and sudden death. During clinical studies involving 40 patients receiving arsenic trioxide for acute promyelocytic leukemia, 16 of them (40%) had at least one ECG tracing with a QTc interval greater than 500 msec. Prolongation of QTc was observed between 1 and 5 weeks after arsenic trioxide infusion and returned towards baseline by the end of 8 weeks. In general, the risk of an individual agent or a combination of agents causing ventricular arrhythmia in association with QT prolongation is largely unpredictable but may be increased by certain underlying risk factors such as congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac disease, and electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia). In addition, the extent of drug-induced QT prolongation is dependent on the particular drug(s) involved and dosage(s) of the drug(s).

MANAGEMENT: If possible, medications that are known to prolong the QT interval should be discontinued prior to initiating therapy with arsenic trioxide and withheld for at least several weeks after completion of therapy. Caution is advised if concomitant use cannot be avoided. Patients should have frequent ECGs and be monitored for arrhythmias when QT interval is prolonged. An absolute QT interval exceeding 500 msec will require immediate action to correct concomitant risk factors, if any, as well as a thorough assessment of the need for continued therapy. Patients who develop syncope or arrhythmia should be hospitalized for clinical and laboratory monitoring. Arsenic trioxide should be temporarily discontinued until symptoms resolve, the QTc interval regresses to below 460 msec, and electrolyte abnormalities are corrected.

References

  1. "Product Information. Trisenox (arsenic trioxide)." Cephalon Inc PROD (2001):
  2. Ohnishi K, Yoshida H, Shigeno K, et al. "Prolongation of the QT interval and ventricular tachycardia in patients treated with arsenic trioxide for acute promyelocytic leukemia." Ann Intern Med 133 (2000): 881-5

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Moderate

dextromethorphan promethazine

Applies to: dextromethorphan / promethazine and dextromethorphan / promethazine

MONITOR: Central nervous system- and/or respiratory-depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased in patients taking multiple drugs that cause these effects, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. Sedation and impairment of attention, judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills may increase.

MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of these drugs, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS and respiratory depression. Cautious dosage titration may be required, particularly at treatment initiation. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

References

  1. Hamilton MJ, Bush M, Smith P, Peck AW "The effects of bupropion, a new antidepressant drug, and diazepam, and their interaction in man." Br J Clin Pharmacol 14 (1982): 791-7
  2. Stambaugh JE, Lane C "Analgesic efficacy and pharmacokinetic evaluation of meperidine and hydroxyzine, alone and in combination." Cancer Invest 1 (1983): 111-7
  3. Sotaniemi EA, Anttila M, Rautio A, et al. "Propranolol and sotalol metabolism after a drinking party." Clin Pharmacol Ther 29 (1981): 705-10
  4. Grabowski BS, Cady WJ, Young WW, Emery JF "Effects of acute alcohol administration on propranolol absorption." Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 18 (1980): 317-9
  5. Lemberger L, Rowe H, Bosomworth JC, Tenbarge JB, Bergstrom RF "The effect of fluoxetine on the pharmacokinetics and psychomotor responses of diazepam." Clin Pharmacol Ther 43 (1988): 412-9
  6. MacLeod SM, Giles HG, Patzalek G, Thiessen JJ, Sellers EM "Diazepam actions and plasma concentrations following ethanol ingestion." Eur J Clin Pharmacol 11 (1977): 345-9
  7. Divoll M, Greenblatt DJ, Lacasse Y, Shader RI "Benzodiazepine overdosage: plasma concentrations and clinical outcome." Psychopharmacology (Berl) 73 (1981): 381-3
  8. Naylor GJ, McHarg A "Profound hypothermia on combined lithium carbonate and diazepam treatment." Br Med J 2 (1977): 22
  9. Stovner J, Endresen R "Intravenous anaesthesia with diazepam." Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 24 (1965): 223-7
  10. Driessen JJ, Vree TB, Booij LH, van der Pol FM, Crul JF "Effect of some benzodiazepines on peripheral neuromuscular function in the rat in-vitro hemidiaphragm preparation." J Pharm Pharmacol 36 (1984): 244-7
  11. Feldman SA, Crawley BE "Interaction of diazepam with the muscle-relaxant drugs." Br Med J 1 (1970): 336-8
  12. Ochs HR, Greenblatt DJ, Verburg-Ochs B "Propranolol interactions with diazepam, lorazepam and alprazolam." Clin Pharmacol Ther 36 (1984): 451-5
  13. Desager JP, Hulhoven R, Harvengt C, Hermann P, Guillet P, Thiercelin JF "Possible interactions between zolpidem, a new sleep inducer and chlorpromazine, a phenothiazine neuroleptic." Psychopharmacology (Berl) 96 (1988): 63-6
  14. Tverskoy M, Fleyshman G, Ezry J, Bradley EL, Jr Kissin I "Midazolam-morphine sedative interaction in patients." Anesth Analg 68 (1989): 282-5
  15. "Product Information. Iopidine (apraclonidine ophthalmic)." Alcon Laboratories Inc PROD
  16. Greiff JMC, Rowbotham D "Pharmacokinetic drug interactions with gastrointestinal motility modifying agents." Clin Pharmacokinet 27 (1994): 447-61
  17. Greb WH, Buscher G, Dierdorf HD, Koster FE, Wolf D, Mellows G "The effect of liver enzyme inhibition by cimetidine and enzyme induction by phenobarbitone on the pharmacokinetics of paroxetine." Acta Psychiatr Scand 80 Suppl (1989): 95-8
  18. Markowitz JS, Wells BG, Carson WH "Interactions between antipsychotic and antihypertensive drugs." Ann Pharmacother 29 (1995): 603-9
  19. "Product Information. Ultram (tramadol)." McNeil Pharmaceutical PROD (2001):
  20. "Product Information. Artane (trihexyphenidyl)." Lederle Laboratories PROD (2001):
  21. "Product Information. Ultiva (remifentanil)." Mylan Institutional (formally Bioniche Pharma USA Inc) PROD (2001):
  22. "Product Information. Seroquel (quetiapine)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  23. "Product Information. Meridia (sibutramine)." Knoll Pharmaceutical Company PROD (2001):
  24. "Product Information. Tasmar (tolcapone)." Valeant Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  25. Miller LG "Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions." Arch Intern Med 158 (1998): 2200-11
  26. "Product Information. Precedex (dexmedetomidine)." Abbott Pharmaceutical PROD (2001):
  27. "Product Information. Trileptal (oxcarbazepine)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  28. Ferslew KE, Hagardorn AN, McCormick WF "A fatal interaction of methocarbamol and ethanol in an accidental poisoning." J Forensic Sci 35 (1990): 477-82
  29. Plushner SL "Valerian: valeriana officinalis." Am J Health Syst Pharm 57 (2000): 328-35
  30. "Product Information. Xatral (alfuzosin)." Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc (2002):
  31. "Product Information. Lexapro (escitalopram)." Forest Pharmaceuticals (2002):
  32. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  33. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  34. "Product Information. Fycompa (perampanel)." Eisai Inc (2012):
  35. "Product Information. Belsomra (suvorexant)." Merck & Co., Inc (2014):
  36. "Product Information. Rexulti (brexpiprazole)." Otsuka American Pharmaceuticals Inc (2015):
View all 36 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

dextromethorphan food

Applies to: dextromethorphan / promethazine

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

References

  1. Warrington SJ, Ankier SI, Turner P "Evaluation of possible interactions between ethanol and trazodone or amitriptyline." Neuropsychobiology 15 (1986): 31-7
  2. Gilman AG, eds., Nies AS, Rall TW, Taylor P "Goodman and Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics." New York, NY: Pergamon Press Inc. (1990):
  3. "Product Information. Fycompa (perampanel)." Eisai Inc (2012):
  4. "Product Information. Rexulti (brexpiprazole)." Otsuka American Pharmaceuticals Inc (2015):
View all 4 references

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Moderate

promethazine food

Applies to: dextromethorphan / promethazine

GENERALLY AVOID: Concurrent use of ethanol and phenothiazines may result in additive CNS depression and psychomotor impairment. Also, ethanol may precipitate dystonic reactions in patients who are taking phenothiazines. The two drugs probably act on different sites in the brain, although the exact mechanism of the interaction is not known.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during phenothiazine therapy.

References

  1. Lutz EG "Neuroleptic-induced akathisia and dystonia triggered by alcohol." JAMA 236 (1976): 2422-3
  2. Freed E "Alcohol-triggered-neuroleptic-induced tremor, rigidity and dystonia." Med J Aust 2 (1981): 44-5

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Therapeutic duplication warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

See also

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Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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