Drug Interactions between artemether / lumefantrine and ivacaftor

Each dose of lumefantrine should be taken with food such as milk, infant formula, pudding, porridge, or broth. Food helps the medication get absorbed into the bloodstream, so the medication may not work as well when taken on an empty stomach. If unable to be swallowed whole, lumefantrine tablets may be crushed and mixed with one to two teaspoons of water in a clean container and consumed immediately after mixing. The container should then be rinsed with more water and the contents consumed. This should be followed by eating as soon as possible. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice during treatment with lumefantrine. Grapefruit juice can cause too much of the medication to be in the blood. 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.

Ivacaftor should be taken with fat-containing foods such as eggs, avocados, nuts, meat, butter, peanut butter, cheese pizza, and whole-milk dairy products to help with its absorption. Do not consume grapefruit juice or any food that contains grapefruit or Seville oranges during treatment with ivacaftor unless directed otherwise by your doctor. Grapefruit juice can significantly increase the blood levels of ivacaftor. This may increase the risk and/or severity of serious side effects such as liver damage. Call your doctor immediately if you have fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, itching, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and/or yellowing of the skin or eyes, as these may be signs and symptoms of liver damage. 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.