Duloxetine and Alcohol / Food Interactions

There are 3 alcohol/food/lifestyle interactions with duloxetine which include:

MONITOR: Coadministration with inhibitors of CYP450 1A2 may increase the plasma concentrations of duloxetine, which is a substrate of the isoenzyme. In 14 male study subjects, coadministration with 100 mg fluvoxamine, a potent CYP450 1A2 inhibitor, resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in duloxetine peak plasma concentration (Cmax), a nearly 6-fold increase in duloxetine systemic exposure (AUC), and an approximately 3-fold increase in duloxetine half-life. The interaction has not been studied with less potent CYP450 1A2 inhibitors such as mexiletine, propafenone, and zileuton. Theoretically, high plasma levels of duloxetine may increase the risk of serious adverse effects such as hypertension, hypertensive crisis, increased heart rate, orthostatic hypotension, syncope, and serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition thought to result from hyperstimulation of brainstem 5-HT1A and 2A receptors. Symptoms may include mental status changes such as irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, hallucinations, and coma; autonomic dysfunction such as tachycardia, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, shivering, blood pressure lability, and mydriasis; neuromuscular abnormalities such as hyperreflexia, myoclonus, tremor, and ataxia; and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if duloxetine is used in combination with CYP450 1A2 inhibitors. Pharmacologic response to duloxetine should be monitored more closely whenever a CYP450 1A2 inhibitor is added to or withdrawn from therapy, and the dosage adjusted as necessary.

GENERALLY AVOID: Use of duloxetine in conjunction with chronic alcohol consumption may potentiate the risk of liver injury. Duloxetine alone can increase serum transaminase levels. In clinical trials, 0.3% of patients discontinued duloxetine due to liver transaminase elevations. The median time to detection was about two months. Three duloxetine-treated patients had liver injury as manifested by transaminase and bilirubin elevations, with evidence of obstruction. Substantial intercurrent ethanol use was present in each of these cases, which may have contributed to the abnormalities observed. Duloxetine does not appear to enhance the central nervous system effects of alcohol. When duloxetine and ethanol were administered several hours apart so that peak concentrations of each would coincide, duloxetine did not increase the impairment of mental and motor skills caused by alcohol.

MANAGEMENT: Due to the risk of liver injury, duloxetine should generally not be prescribed to patients with substantial alcohol use.

GENERALLY AVOID: Use of duloxetine in conjunction with chronic alcohol consumption may potentiate the risk of liver injury. Duloxetine alone can increase serum transaminase levels. In clinical trials, 0.3% of patients discontinued duloxetine due to liver transaminase elevations. The median time to detection was about two months. Three duloxetine-treated patients had liver injury as manifested by transaminase and bilirubin elevations, with evidence of obstruction. Substantial intercurrent ethanol use was present in each of these cases, which may have contributed to the abnormalities observed. Duloxetine does not appear to enhance the central nervous system effects of alcohol. When duloxetine and ethanol were administered several hours apart so that peak concentrations of each would coincide, duloxetine did not increase the impairment of mental and motor skills caused by alcohol.

MANAGEMENT: Due to the risk of liver injury, patients prescribed duloxetine should be counseled to avoid excessive use of alcohol. Duloxetine should generally not be prescribed to patients with substantial alcohol use.

You should also know about...

duloxetine drug Interactions

There are 1033 drug interactions with duloxetine

See also...

• Duloxetine Side Effects
• Duloxetine Consumer Information

• Drug Interactions Checker

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