Drug Interactions between Alka-Seltzer PM and digoxin

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration with food may increase the absorption of calcium. However, foods high in oxalic acid (spinach or rhubarb), or phytic acid (bran and whole grains) may decrease calcium absorption.

MANAGEMENT: Calcium may be administered with food to increase absorption. Consider withholding calcium administration for at least 2 hours before or after consuming foods high in oxalic acid or phytic acid.

MONITOR: Oral caffeine may significantly increase the bioavailability of melatonin. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 1A2 first-pass metabolism. After administration of melatonin 6 mg and caffeine 200 mg orally (approximately equivalent to 1 large cup of coffee) to 12 healthy subjects, the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of melatonin increased by 137% and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) increased by 120%. The metabolic inhibition was greater in nonsmokers (n=6) than in smokers (n=6). The greatest effect was seen in subjects with the *1F/*1F genotype (n=7), whose melatonin Cmax increased by 202%. The half-life did not change significantly. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown.

According to some authorities, alcohol may reduce the effect of melatonin on sleep. The mechanism of this interaction is not fully understood.

In addition, CYP450 1A2 inducers like cigarette smoking may reduce exogenous melatonin plasma levels. In a small clinical trial (n=8), habitual smokers had their melatonin plasma levels measured two times, each after a single oral dose of 25 mg of melatonin. They had smoked prior to the first measurement but had not smoked for 7 days prior to the second. Cigarette smoking significantly reduced melatonin plasma exposure (AUC) as compared to melatonin levels after 7 days of smoking abstinence (7.34 +/- 1.85 versus 21.07 +/- 7.28 nmol/L*h, respectively).

MANAGEMENT: Caution and monitoring are recommended if melatonin is used with inhibitors of CYP450 1A2 like caffeine or inducers of CYP450 1A2 like cigarette smoking. Consumption of alcohol should be avoided when taking melatonin.

Administration of digoxin with a high-fiber meal has been shown to decrease its bioavailability by almost 20%. Fiber can sequester up to 45% of the drug when given orally. Patients should be advised to maintain a regular diet without significant fluctuation in fiber intake while digoxin is being titrated.

Grapefruit juice may modestly increase the plasma concentrations of digoxin. The mechanism is increased absorption of digoxin due to mild inhibition of intestinal P-glycoprotein by certain compounds present in grapefruits. In 12 healthy volunteers, administration of grapefruit juice with and 30 minutes before, as well as 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 hours after a single digoxin dose (0.5 mg) increased the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of digoxin by just 9% compared to administration with water. Moreover, P-glycoprotein genetic polymorphism does not appear to influence the magnitude of the effects of grapefruit juice on digoxin. Thus, the interaction is unlikely to be of clinical significance.