Drug Interactions between cocaine nasal and erythromycin / sulfisoxazole

GENERALLY AVOID: Ester-type local anesthetics are hydrolyzed to paraaminobenzoic acid, which can inhibit the action of sulfonamides.

MONITOR: Ester-type local anesthetics can cause methemoglobinemia, and coadministration with other oxidizing agents that can also induce methemoglobinemia such as sulfonamides may increase the risk. Topical formulations of ester-type local anesthetics may be absorbed systemically and may also have the potential to induce methemoglobinemia, particularly when applied to mucous membranes. Additional risk factors include very young age (e.g., infants less than 6 months); application to inflamed/abraded areas or broken skin; anemia; cardiac or pulmonary disease; peripheral vascular disease; liver cirrhosis; shock; sepsis; acidosis; and genetic predisposition (e.g., NADH cytochrome-b5 reductase deficiency; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; hemoglobin M). There have been rare reports of significant methemoglobinemia associated with administration of topical anesthetics, primarily following application to mucous membranes prior to dental procedures or via the oropharyngeal route prior to procedures such as intubation, laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, and endoscopy. Very rarely, methemoglobinemia has also been reported with use of anesthetic throat lozenges.

MANAGEMENT: The administration of injectable ester-type local anesthetics to patients who are on sulfonamides should generally be avoided. Amide-type anesthetics are not expected to inhibit the action of sulfonamides and may be considered as alternatives (e.g., bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine). However, caution is advised due to the potential for development of methemoglobinemia. Likewise, caution should be exercised when topical formulations of ester-type local anesthetics are administered to patients receiving sulfonamides, particularly when applied to mucous membranes or given via the oropharyngeal route. Signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia may be delayed some hours after drug exposure. Patients or their caregivers should be advised to seek medical attention if they notice signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia such as slate-grey cyanosis in buccal mucous membranes, lips, and nail beds; nausea; headache; dizziness; lightheadedness; lethargy; fatigue; dyspnea; tachypnea; tachycardia; palpitation; anxiety; and confusion. In severe cases, patients may progress to central nervous system depression, stupor, seizures, acidosis, cardiac arrhythmias, syncope, shock, coma, and death. Methemoglobinemia should be considered if central cyanosis is unresponsive to oxygen. Calculated oxygen saturation and pulse oximetry are generally not accurate in the setting of methemoglobinemia. The diagnosis can be confirmed by an elevated methemoglobin level of at least 10% using co-oximetry. Methemoglobin concentrations greater than 10% of total hemoglobin will typically cause cyanosis, and levels over 70% are frequently fatal. However, symptom severity is not always related to methemoglobin levels. Mild cases often respond to withdrawal of offending agents and symptomatic support. If patient does not respond to administration of oxygen, clinically significant or symptomatic methemoglobinemia can be treated with methylene blue 1 to 2 mg/kg by slow intravenous injection over 5 to 10 minutes, which may be repeated within 30 to 60 minutes if necessary. Higher dosages of methylene blue (usually greater than 7 mg/kg) should be avoided, as it can paradoxically exacerbate methemoglobinemia. Additionally, methylene blue is ineffective and can cause hemolytic anemia in patients with G6PD deficiency. These patients may be treated with exchange transfusion, dialysis, and/or hyperbaric oxygenation in addition to symptomatic support.

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