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Can you take Alprostadil with APO-Go?

1 drug interaction and 20 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Drug interactions

Major drug interactions

Major:

alprostadil apomorphine

Applies to: alprostadil and APO-Go (apomorphine)

Apomorphine and alprostadil may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate. These side effects are most likely to be seen at the beginning of treatment, following a dose increase, or when treatment is restarted after an interruption. Let your doctor know if you develop these symptoms and they do not go away after a few days or they become troublesome. Avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you, and use caution when getting up from a sitting or lying position. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Therapeutic duplication warnings

Therapeutic duplication is the use of more than one medicine from the same drug category or therapeutic class to treat the same condition.

It can be intentional, when combining drugs with similar actions adds demonstrated therapeutic benefit — or unintentional, such as when a patient sees multiple prescribers or fills prescriptions at more than one pharmacy, which can lead to adverse effects.

Duplication:

Erectile dysfunction agents

The recommended maximum number of medicines in the 'erectile dysfunction agents' category to be taken concurrently is usually one. Your list includes two medicines belonging to the 'erectile dysfunction agents' category:

  • alprostadil
  • APO-Go (apomorphine)

Note: In certain circumstances, the benefits of taking this combination of drugs may outweigh any risks. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or dosage.

Food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate:

apomorphine Food/Lifestyle

Applies to: APO-Go (apomorphine)

Alcohol can lower your blood pressure and add to the effects of apomorphine. Drinking alcohol while taking apomorphine may decrease your blood pressure and cause drowsiness. This can cause nausea, extreme drowsiness, slow heartbeat, headaches, and dizziness. If you take apomorphine with alcohol tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Moderate:

alprostadil Alcohol (Ethanol)

Applies to: alprostadil

Alprostadil and ethanol (alcohol) may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or changes in pulse or heart rate, especially when treatment is started, the dose is changed, or treatment is restarted. Tell your doctor promptly if these symptoms occur and seek urgent medical help if you faint or have severe dizziness. Avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you, and use caution when getting up from a sitting or lying position. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Disease interactions

17 potential interactions Applies to: 16 conditions, including Asthma, Hypokalemia, Hypotension, Tardive Dyskinesia, and Psychosis.

Alcoholism

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Alcoholism.

In a study of healthy subjects, the hypotensive effect of apomorphine on systolic and diastolic blood pressure was exacerbated by the concomitant use of alcohol. Patients should avoid alcohol when using apomorphine.

Asthma

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Asthma.

Apomorphine products contain sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions (including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes) in certain susceptible patients. While the overall prevalence in the general population is unknown and probably low, sulfite sensitivity is seen more often in patients with asthma than in those without asthma.

Bleeding Associated with Coagulation Defect

Moderate:

alprostadil

Alprostadil has a moderate potential interaction with Bleeding Associated with Coagulation Defect.

Alprostadil inhibits platelet aggregation. Caution is recommended when using alprostadil injection in neonates with bleeding tendencies.

Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders.

Apomorphine has been shown to reduce resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and may have the potential to exacerbate cardiac and cerebral ischemia in patients with known cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. If patients develop signs/symptoms of cardiac or cerebral ischemia, prescribers should reevaluate the continued use of apomorphine.

Cerebral Vascular Disorder

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Cerebral Vascular Disorder.

Apomorphine has been shown to reduce resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and may have the potential to exacerbate cardiac and cerebral ischemia in patients with known cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. If patients develop signs/symptoms of cardiac or cerebral ischemia, prescribers should reevaluate the continued use of apomorphine.

Electrolyte Abnormalities

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Electrolyte Abnormalities.

The risks/benefits of apomorphine treatment should be considered before starting this drug in patients with risk factors for prolonged QTc. There is a dose-related prolongation of QTc interval after apomorphine exposure similar to that achieved with therapeutic doses of this drug. For the intermittent injection formulation, doses greater than 6 mg do not provide additional clinical benefit and are not recommended. Drugs that prolong QTc interval have been associated with torsades de pointes and sudden death. The link between QTc prolongation and torsades de pointes is most apparent with larger increases (20 msec and greater), but smaller QTc prolongations may also increase risk, particularly in susceptible patients (e.g., those with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, bradycardia, genetic predisposition [such as congenital QT interval prolongation], or concomitant use of other drugs that prolong QTc interval). Although no occurrence of torsades de pointes was reported in association with apomorphine at recommended doses in clinical trials, an increased risk cannot be ruled out due to limited experience.

Hypokalemia

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Hypokalemia.

The risks/benefits of apomorphine treatment should be considered before starting this drug in patients with risk factors for prolonged QTc. There is a dose-related prolongation of QTc interval after apomorphine exposure similar to that achieved with therapeutic doses of this drug. For the intermittent injection formulation, doses greater than 6 mg do not provide additional clinical benefit and are not recommended. Drugs that prolong QTc interval have been associated with torsades de pointes and sudden death. The link between QTc prolongation and torsades de pointes is most apparent with larger increases (20 msec and greater), but smaller QTc prolongations may also increase risk, particularly in susceptible patients (e.g., those with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, bradycardia, genetic predisposition [such as congenital QT interval prolongation], or concomitant use of other drugs that prolong QTc interval). Although no occurrence of torsades de pointes was reported in association with apomorphine at recommended doses in clinical trials, an increased risk cannot be ruled out due to limited experience.

Hypotension

Moderate:

alprostadil

Alprostadil has a moderate potential interaction with Hypotension.

Increased peripheral blood levels of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and its metabolites can lead to hypotension and/or dizziness. Intracavernous injections of alprostadil can lead to increased blood levels of PGE1. Therapy with alprostadil should be administered cautiously in patients with hypotension.

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Hypotension.

Dopamine agonists may impair the systemic regulation of blood pressure, with resultant orthostatic hypotension at any time, but especially during dose escalation. Additionally, patients with Parkinson's disease may have an impaired capacity to respond to an orthostatic challenge. For these reasons, patients with Parkinson's disease (or restless legs syndrome) who are being treated with dopaminergic agonists typically require careful monitoring for signs/symptoms of orthostatic hypotension, especially during dose escalation, and should be advised of this risk.

Liver Disease

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Liver Disease.

Apomorphine has not been studied in patients with severe liver dysfunction. Because apomorphine concentration and exposure (AUC and Cmax) is increased, caution should be exercised if apomorphine is administered to patients with mild or moderate liver dysfunction; these patients should be closely monitored.

Long QT Syndrome

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Long QT Syndrome.

The risks/benefits of apomorphine treatment should be considered before starting this drug in patients with risk factors for prolonged QTc. There is a dose-related prolongation of QTc interval after apomorphine exposure similar to that achieved with therapeutic doses of this drug. For the intermittent injection formulation, doses greater than 6 mg do not provide additional clinical benefit and are not recommended. Drugs that prolong QTc interval have been associated with torsades de pointes and sudden death. The link between QTc prolongation and torsades de pointes is most apparent with larger increases (20 msec and greater), but smaller QTc prolongations may also increase risk, particularly in susceptible patients (e.g., those with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, bradycardia, genetic predisposition [such as congenital QT interval prolongation], or concomitant use of other drugs that prolong QTc interval). Although no occurrence of torsades de pointes was reported in association with apomorphine at recommended doses in clinical trials, an increased risk cannot be ruled out due to limited experience.

Psychosis

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Psychosis.

Ordinarily, patients with major psychotic disorder should not be treated with dopaminergic antiparkinsonian agents, because of the risk of exacerbating psychosis. Hallucinations and psychotic-like behavior have been reported with dopaminergic medications. In addition, certain medications used to treat psychosis may exacerbate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and may decrease the effectiveness of these drugs. The use of bromocriptine in patients with severe psychotic disorders is not recommended.

Pulmonary Impairment

Major:

alprostadil

Alprostadil has a major potential interaction with Pulmonary Impairment.

Alprostadil injection should not be used in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Apnea is experienced by about 10 to 12% of neonates with congenital heart defects treated with alprostadil injection. Respiratory status should be monitored throughout treatment, and alprostadil injection should be used where ventilatory assistance is immediately available.

Renal Dysfunction

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.

Apomorphine has not been studied in patients with severe renal dysfunction. For patients with mild or moderate renal dysfunction using the intermittent injection formulation, the test dose and starting dose of apomorphine should be reduced to 1 mg. For patients with mild or moderate renal dysfunction using the continuous infusion formulation, the initial extra dose of apomorphine is 0.5 to 1 mg and should not exceed 1 mg; no adjustment is needed for the continuous dose, maximum recommended daily dose, or subsequent extra doses after the initial extra dose.

Sepsis

Major:

alprostadil

Alprostadil has a major potential interaction with Sepsis.

Alprostadil injection should not be used in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Apnea is experienced by about 10 to 12% of neonates with congenital heart defects treated with alprostadil injection. Respiratory status should be monitored throughout treatment, and alprostadil injection should be used where ventilatory assistance is immediately available.

Sleep Disorders

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Sleep Disorders.

Somnolence is commonly associated with apomorphine. Patients treated with apomorphine have also reported falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living, including the operation of motor vehicles, which sometimes resulted in accidents. Falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living usually occurs in patients with preexisting somnolence, although patients may not give such a history. Before starting treatment with apomorphine, patients should be informed of the risk of drowsiness and asked about factors that could increase the risk with apomorphine, such as the presence of sleep disorders.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Moderate:

APO-Go

The apomorphine in APO-Go has a moderate potential interaction with Tardive Dyskinesia.

Apomorphine may cause dyskinesia or exacerbate preexisting dyskinesia. Patients should be informed that new or worsening dyskinesia may occur.

More resources

alprostadil

A total of 419 drugs are known to interact with alprostadil.

APO-Go

A total of 613 drugs are known to interact with APO-Go.

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.