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Drug Interactions between Mellaril and Zoloft

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Major

thioridazine sertraline

Applies to: Mellaril (thioridazine) and Zoloft (sertraline)

CONTRAINDICATED: Coadministration with inhibitors of CYP450 2D6 may increase the plasma concentrations and adverse effects of thioridazine and its two active metabolites, mesoridazine and sulforidazine, all of which are substrates of the isoenzyme. A study in 19 healthy male patients reviewed thioridazine metabolism in 6 slow and 13 rapid hydroxylators of debrisoquin (the rate of which is believed to be dependent upon the level of CYP450 2D6 activity). A single oral dose of thioridazine (25 mg) produced a 2.4-fold higher peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and a 4.5-fold higher systemic exposure (AUC) for thioridazine in the slow hydroxylators, which is predicted to be similar to what would be seen in patients on CYP450 2D6 inhibitors. Additionally, significant increases (up to severalfold) have been observed during coadministration with fluvoxamine, propranolol, and pindolol in pharmacokinetic studies, although these reductions in clearance may be via other currently unknown mechanisms. The use of thioridazine has been associated with dose-related prolongation of the QT interval, thus elevated plasma levels of the drug may potentiate the risk of ventricular arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and torsade de pointes as well as cardiac arrest and sudden death. Several cases of torsade de pointes have been reported.

MANAGEMENT: The use of thioridazine with fluvoxamine, propranolol, pindolol and/or drugs that inhibit CYP450 2D6 is considered contraindicated. Depending on the elimination half-life of these drugs, a considerable waiting period may be appropriate following their discontinuation before thioridazine is initiated. For example, the manufacturer of fluoxetine recommends that thioridazine not be administered within 5 weeks after discontinuing fluoxetine because of the drug's long half-life. In addition, the prolonged duration of CYP450 2D6 inhibition by the moderate CYP450 2D6 inhibitor rolapitant of at least 28 days after its administration should also be taken into account.

References

  1. Silver JM, Yudofsky SC, Kogan M, Katz BL (1986) "Elevation of thioridazine plasma levels by propranolol." Am J Psychiatry, 143, p. 1290-2
  2. Greendyke RM, Kanter DR (1987) "Plasma propranolol levels and their effect on plasma thioridazine and haloperidol concentrations." J Clin Psychopharmacol, 7, p. 178-82
  3. Greendyke RM, Gulya A (1988) "Effect of pindolol administration on serum levels of thioridazine, haloperidol, phenytoin, and phenobarbital." J Clin Psychiatry, 49, p. 105-7
  4. Abernethy DR, Greenblatt DJ, Steel K, Shader RI (1982) "Impairment of hepatic drug oxidation by propoxyphene." Ann Intern Med, 97, p. 223-4
  5. (2001) "Product Information. Prozac (fluoxetine)." Dista Products Company
  6. Fletcher GF, Kazamias TM (1969) "Cardiotoxic effects of Mellaril: conduction disturbances and supraventricular arrhythmias." Am Heart J, 78, p. 135-8
  7. Markowitz JS, Wells BG, Carson WH (1995) "Interactions between antipsychotic and antihypertensive drugs." Ann Pharmacother, 29, p. 603-9
  8. (2001) "Product Information. Mellaril (thioridazine)." Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation
  9. Thomas M, Maconochie JG, Fletcher E (1996) "The dilemma of the prolonged QT interval in early drug studies." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 41, p. 77-81
  10. Hartigan-Go K, Bateman DN, Nyberg G, Martensson E, Thomas SHL (1996) "Concentration-related pharmacodynamic effects of thioridazine and its metabolites in humans." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 60, p. 543-53
  11. Carrillo JA, Ramos SI, Herraiz AG, Llerena A, Agundez JAG, Berecz R, Duran M, Benitez J (1999) "Pharmacokinetic interaction of fluvoxamine and thioridazine in schizophrenic patients." J Clin Psychopharmacol, 19, p. 494-9
  12. Glassman AH, Bigger JT Jr (2001) "Antipsychotic drugs: prolonged QTc interval, torsade de pointes, and sudden death." Am J Psychiatry, 158, p. 1774-82
  13. (2015) "Product Information. Varubi (rolapitant)." Tesaro Inc.
  14. (2019) "Product Information. Thioridazine Hydrochloride (thioridazine)." Mylan Institutional (formerly UDL Laboratories)
View all 14 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

sertraline food

Applies to: Zoloft (sertraline)

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of sertraline. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In addition, limited clinical data suggest that consumption of grapefruit juice during treatment with sertraline may result in increased plasma concentrations of sertraline. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism by certain compounds present in grapefruit. An in-vitro study demonstrated that grapefruit juice dose-dependently inhibits the conversion of sertraline to its metabolite, desmethylsertraline. In a study with eight Japanese subjects, mean plasma levels of sertraline increased by approximately 100% and maximum plasma concentrations increased by 66% after the ingestion of three 250 mL glasses of grapefruit juice per day for 5 days and administration of a single dose of sertraline 75 mg on the sixth day. In another small study with 5 patients, mean sertraline trough levels increased by 47% after taking sertraline for at least 6 weeks, then taking sertraline with 240 mL grapefruit juice daily for 1 week. The clinical significance is unknown; however, pharmacokinetic alterations associated with interactions involving grapefruit juice are often subject to a high degree of interpatient variability. The possibility of significant interaction in some patients should be considered.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving sertraline should be 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 sertraline affects them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities. Some authorities recommend that consumption of grapefruit juice should be avoided during sertraline therapy.

References

  1. (2001) "Product Information. Zoloft (sertraline)." Roerig Division
  2. Lee AJ, Chan WK, Harralson AF, Buffum J, Bui BCC (1999) "The effects of grapefruit juice on sertraline metabolism: An in vitro and in vivo study." Clin Ther, 21, p. 1890-9
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
  4. Ueda N, Yoshimura R, Umene-Nakano W, et al. (2009) "Grapefruit juice alters plasma sertraline levels after single ingestion of sertraline in healthy volunteers." World J Biol Psychiatry, 10(4 Pt 3), p. 832-5
View all 4 references

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Moderate

thioridazine food

Applies to: Mellaril (thioridazine)

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

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