Drug Interactions between amoxicillin / clarithromycin / lansoprazole and glipizide

MONITOR: Limited data suggest that clarithromycin may potentiate the hypoglycemic effect of sulfonylureas in susceptible individuals such as the elderly and patients with renal impairment. The exact mechanism is unknown but may involve clarithromycin displacement of sulfonylureas from plasma protein binding sites. The interaction was suspected in two elderly patients (72 and 82 years old) who developed severe hypoglycemia and profound mental status changes within 48 hours after initiating clarithromycin 1000 mg/day for bronchitis. Both patients had type II diabetes that was previously well controlled on diet and sulfonylurea therapy (glipizide 15 mg/day and glyburide 5 mg/day), and both had mild to moderately impaired renal function. The patients were given intravenous glucose with no further incident after discontinuing the sulfonylurea.

MANAGEMENT: Clarithromycin should be prescribed cautiously to diabetic patients with renal impairment who are receiving sulfonylurea therapy, particularly if they are also elderly. Patients should be advised to regularly monitor their blood sugar and counseled on how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia, which may include symptoms such as headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, confusion, tremor, hunger, weakness, perspiration, and palpitations. The physician should be notified if an interaction is suspected.

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MONITOR: Coadministration with clarithromycin may increase the plasma concentrations of lansoprazole. The proposed mechanism is clarithromycin inhibition of intestinal (first-pass) and hepatic metabolism of lansoprazole via CYP450 3A4. Although lansoprazole is primarily metabolized by CYP450 2C19 in the liver, 3A4-mediated metabolism is the predominant pathway in individuals who are 2C19-deficient (approximately 3% to 5% of the Caucasian and 17% to 20% of the Asian population). Additionally, inhibition of P-glycoprotein intestinal efflux transporter by clarithromycin may also contribute to the interaction, resulting in increased bioavailability of lansoprazole. In 18 healthy volunteers--six each of homozygous extensive metabolizers (EMs), heterozygous EMs, and poor metabolizers (PMs) of CYP450 2C19--clarithromycin (400 mg orally twice a day for 6 days) increased the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of a single 60 mg oral dose of lansoprazole by 1.47, 1.71- and 1.52-fold, respectively, and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) by 1.55-, 1.74- and 1.80-fold, respectively, in each of these groups compared to placebo. The AUC ratio of lansoprazole to lansoprazole sulphone, which is considered an index of CYP450 3A4 activity, was significantly increased by clarithromycin in all three groups. However, elimination half-life of lansoprazole was prolonged by 1.54-fold only in PMs. Mild diarrhea was reported in two subjects and mild abdominal disturbance in six subjects during clarithromycin coadministration. These side effects continued until day 6 and ameliorated the day after discontinuation of clarithromycin, whereas no adverse events were reported during placebo administration or after lansoprazole plus placebo. In another study, clarithromycin induced dose-dependent increases in the plasma concentration of lansoprazole in a group of 20 patients receiving treatment for H. pylori eradication. Mean 3-hour plasma lansoprazole concentration was 385 ng/mL for the control subjects who received lansoprazole 30 mg and amoxicillin 750 mg twice a day for 7 days; 696 ng/mL for patients coadministered clarithromycin 200 mg twice a day; and 947 ng/mL for patients coadministered clarithromycin 400 mg twice a day.

MANAGEMENT: Although lansoprazole is generally well tolerated, caution may be advised during coadministration with clarithromycin, particularly if higher dosages of one or both drugs are used. Dosage adjustment may be necessary in patients who experience excessive adverse effects of lansoprazole.

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Although some in vitro data indicate synergism between macrolide antibiotics and penicillins, other in vitro data indicate antagonism. When these drugs are given together, neither has predictable therapeutic efficacy. Data are available for erythromycin, although theoretically this interaction could occur with any macrolide. Except for monitoring of the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy, no special precautions appear to be necessary.

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