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Drug Interactions between niacin and zidovudine

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

zidovudine niacin

Applies to: zidovudine and niacin

MONITOR: Prolonged use of certain nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors may commonly cause myopathy, including rare cases of rhabdomyolysis. It is not known if the risk of myopathy is increased during concurrent administration of other agents associated with myopathy, including corticosteroids, fibric acid derivatives, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, penicillamine, and lipid-lowering doses of niacin.

MANAGEMENT: Clinicians should carefully consider the benefits versus risks prior to prescribing these agents together. Patients should be advised to promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever. Therapy should be interrupted if myopathy is suspected, and discontinued if myopathy is diagnosed.

References

  1. (2001) "Product Information. Retrovir (zidovudine)." Glaxo Wellcome
  2. (2006) "Product Information. Tyzeka (telbivudine)." IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

niacin food

Applies to: niacin

GENERALLY AVOID: Ethanol can exacerbate the cutaneous flushing that is a common side effect of niacin. At least one case of delirium and lactic acidosis has been reported with coadministration of these drugs, although data are limited.

MANAGEMENT: Coadministration should probably be discouraged, particularly since chronic consumption of large amounts of alcohol is associated with hyperlipidemia.

References

  1. Schwab RA, Bachhuber BH (1991) "Delirium and lactic acidosis caused by ethanol and niacin coingestion." Am J Emerg Med, 9, p. 363-5

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Minor

zidovudine food

Applies to: zidovudine

Food may have variable effects on the oral bioavailability of zidovudine. Fatty foods have been reported to decrease the rate and extent of zidovudine absorption following oral administration. In a study of 13 AIDS patients, mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of zidovudine were 2.8 and 1.4 times higher, respectively, in fasting patients than in those administered the medication with breakfast. In addition, variations in plasma zidovudine concentrations were increased when administered in the fed state. In another study of eight patients, the time to reach peak concentration (Tmax) was increased from 0.68 to 1.95 hours, and Cmax was reduced by 50% when zidovudine was administered with a liquid high-fat meal relative to fasting. Protein meals can also delay the absorption and reduce the Cmax of zidovudine, although the extent of absorption is not significantly affected. The clinical significance of these alterations, if any, is unknown. The product labeling states that zidovudine may be taken with or without food.

References

  1. Lotterer E, Ruhnke M, Trautman M, et al. (1991) "Decreased and variable systemic availability of zidovudine in patients with AIDS if administered with a meal." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 40, p. 305-8
  2. Unadkat JD, Collier AC, Crosby SS, et al. (1990) "Pharmacokinetics of oral zidovudine (azidothymidine) in patients with AIDS when administered with and without a high-fat meal." AIDS, 4, p. 229-32
  3. (2001) "Product Information. Retrovir (zidovudine)." Glaxo Wellcome
  4. Sahai J, Gallicano K, Garber G, et al. (1992) "The effect of a protein meal on zidovudine pharmacokinetics in HIV-infected patients." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 33, p. 657-60
View all 4 references

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Minor

niacin food

Applies to: niacin

A single case has been reported in which cutaneous flushing and tremors were noted in a woman who was taking niacin while wearing a nicotine patch. The mechanism is suspected to be synergistic cutaneous vasodilatory effects. The clinical significance of this possible interaction is not known.

References

  1. Rockwell KA Jr (1993) "Potential interaction between niacin and transdermal nicotine." Ann Pharmacother, 27, p. 1283-8

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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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