Drug Interactions between MLK F2 and thalidomide

GENERALLY AVOID: Additive toxicities may occur when bupivacaine is coadministered with other local anesthetics. The potential for increased risk of systemic toxicities such as methemoglobinemia and central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse reactions should be recognized.

MANAGEMENT: Additional use of local anesthetics should generally be avoided within 96 hours following administration of bupivacaine. If coadministration cannot be avoided, overall local anesthetic exposure through 72 hours must be considered in addition to monitoring for the development of methemoglobinemia as well as central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse reactions. 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. Early warning signs of central nervous system toxicity may include restlessness, anxiety, incoherent speech, dizziness, lightheadedness, numbness and tingling of the mouth and lips, metallic taste, tinnitus, blurred vision, tremors, twitching, depression, and drowsiness. Cardiovascular toxicity may include atrioventricular block, ventricular arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and decreased cardiac output and arterial blood pressure due to depressed cardiac conductivity, excitability, and myocardial contractility. Patients should have cardiovascular and respiratory vital signs and state of consciousness constantly monitored while under treatment.

Switch to consumer interaction data

MONITOR CLOSELY: Coadministration of thalidomide with glucocorticoids and/or antineoplastic agents in the treatment of malignancy may potentiate the risk of thromboembolism. The exact mechanism is unknown but likely multifactorial. Thalidomide alone has been associated with the development of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), and malignancy itself is also a common cause. In a study of 100 patients receiving induction chemotherapy (combinations of dexamethasone, vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin) for multiple myeloma, the addition of thalidomide was associated with an increased incidence of DVT compared to chemotherapy without thalidomide (28% vs. 4%). Administration of thalidomide was safely resumed in 75% of patients after initiation of appropriate anticoagulation therapy. In another study, 9 of 21 (43%) patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) receiving gemcitabine, 5-FU, and thalidomide developed venous thromboembolism, including one case of fatal cardiac arrest. This rate is substantially higher than the 3% rate observed in a group of 125 patients previously treated at the same institution with similar regimens of gemcitabine and 5-FU but without thalidomide. It is also higher than the 9% rate (12 of 140 patients) the investigators found in a review of published data from five RCC trials that used thalidomide therapy without concomitant cytotoxic therapy. Another study found a significant association of DVT with exposure to doxorubicin in patients receiving thalidomide. Specifically, 31 of 192 (16%) multiple myeloma patients treated with DT-PACE (a regimen of dexamethasone, thalidomide, cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide) developed DVT, while only 1 of 40 (2.5%) did so on DCEP-T (similar to DT-PACE but without doxorubicin). The time to DVT was also significantly decreased with doxorubicin exposure. In a pooled analysis of 39 prospectively monitored clinical trials involving 1784 thalidomide-treated patients, the incidence of thromboembolism was 5% when thalidomide was used as a single agent, 13% when combined with corticosteroids (8% to 26% has been reported in individual studies with dexamethasone), and 17% when combined with chemotherapy. Among thalidomide-treated patients with multiple myeloma, thromboembolism rates ranged from a low of 1/30 among those treated with concomitant cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin to a high of about 1/3 in those treated with doxorubicin-containing regimens.

MANAGEMENT: Close monitoring for DVT or pulmonary embolism is recommended in patients who require thalidomide therapy in combination with glucocorticoids and/or cytotoxic agents. Patients should be advised to seek medical attention if they develop potential signs and symptoms of thromboembolism such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain or swelling in the arms or legs. Prophylaxis with anticoagulants such as low-molecular weight heparins or warfarin may be appropriate, but the decision to take thromboprophylactic measures should be made after careful assessment of underlying risk factors. If a thromboembolic event occurs during therapy with thalidomide, treatment must be discontinued and standard anticoagulation therapy started. Once anticoagulation is stabilized and complications of the thromboembolic event under control, thalidomide may be restarted at the original dose if benefit is deemed to outweigh the risks. Anticoagulation therapy should be continued during the remaining course of thalidomide treatment.

Switch to consumer interaction data

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.

Switch to consumer interaction data