Drug Interactions between amiodarone and amprenavir

GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit juice may significantly increase the plasma concentrations of orally administered amiodarone. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. In 11 nonsmoking, healthy volunteers, grapefruit juice (300 mL with drug administration, then 3 hours and 9 hours later) increased the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of amiodarone (17 mg/kg single dose) by 84% and 50%, respectively, compared to water. Formation of the pharmacologically active metabolite, N-desethylamiodarone (N-DEA), was completely inhibited. Clinically, this interaction can lead to altered efficacy of amiodarone, since antiarrhythmic properties of amiodarone and N-DEA appear to differ. In the study, mean increases in PR and QTc intervals of 17.9% and 11.3%, respectively, were observed 6 hours postdose with water, while increases of 10.2% and 3.3%, respectively, were observed after administration with grapefruit juice.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food increases the rate and extent of absorption of amiodarone. The mechanism appears to involve the effect of food-induced physiologic changes on drug release from its formulation. In 30 healthy volunteers, administration of a single 600 mg dose of amiodarone following a high-fat meal resulted in a Cmax and AUC that were 3.8 and 2.4 times the respective values under fasting conditions. The time to reach peak plasma concentration (Tmax) was decreased by 37%, indicating an increased rate of absorption. Mean Cmax and AUC for the active metabolite, N-DEA, also increased by 32% and 55%, respectively, but there was no change in the Tmax.

MANAGEMENT: Patients treated with oral amiodarone should avoid consumption of grapefruits and grapefruit juice. In addition, oral amiodarone should be administered consistently with regard to meals.

GENERALLY AVOID: Administration with a high-fat meal may decrease the oral bioavailability of amprenavir. The mechanism is unknown. In healthy volunteers, consumption of a standardized high-fat meal decreased the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of amprenavir (1200 mg single oral dose) by 36% and 21%, respectively, compared to administration in the fasted state. The time to reach Cmax (Tmax) was increased 44% following a high-fat meal.

Grapefruit juice does not appear to significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of amprenavir. In 12 healthy volunteers, administration with grapefruit juice (200 mL) decreased the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of amprenavir (1200 mg single oral dose) by 22% compared to water. The median time to reach Cmax (Tmax) was prolonged from 0.75 to 1.13 hours. These pharmacokinetic changes are not thought to be clinically significant, since antiretroviral response is more closely associated with systemic exposure (AUC) and trough plasma concentration (Cmin), which were not affected in the study.

MANAGEMENT: Amprenavir may be taken with or without food, but should not be taken with a high-fat meal.