Drug Interactions between atorvastatin and Se-Donna PB HYOS

MONITOR: Agents with anticholinergic properties (e.g., sedating antihistamines; antispasmodics; neuroleptics; phenothiazines; skeletal muscle relaxants; tricyclic antidepressants; disopyramide) may have additive effects when used in combination. Excessive parasympatholytic effects may result in paralytic ileus, hyperthermia, heat stroke, and the anticholinergic intoxication syndrome. Peripheral symptoms of intoxication commonly include mydriasis, blurred vision, flushed face, fever, dry skin and mucous membranes, tachycardia, urinary retention, and constipation. Central symptoms may include memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, hallucinations, psychosis, delirium, hyperactivity, twitching or jerking movements, stereotypy, and seizures. Central nervous system-depressant effects may also be additively or synergistically increased when these agents are combined, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. Use of neuroleptics in combination with other neuroleptics or anticholinergic agents may increase the risk of tardive dyskinesia. In addition, some neuroleptics and tricyclic antidepressants may cause prolongation of the QT interval and theoretically, concurrent use of two or more drugs that can cause QT interval prolongation may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes and sudden death.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when agents with anticholinergic properties are combined, particularly in the elderly and those with underlying organic brain disease, who tend to be more sensitive to the central anticholinergic effects of these drugs and in whom toxicity symptoms may be easily overlooked. Patients should be advised to notify their physician promptly if they experience potential symptoms of anticholinergic intoxication such as abdominal pain, fever, heat intolerance, blurred vision, confusion, and/or hallucinations. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them. A reduction in anticholinergic dosages may be necessary if excessive adverse effects develop.

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MONITOR: Agents with anticholinergic properties (e.g., sedating antihistamines; antispasmodics; neuroleptics; phenothiazines; skeletal muscle relaxants; tricyclic antidepressants; disopyramide) may have additive effects when used in combination. Excessive parasympatholytic effects may result in paralytic ileus, hyperthermia, heat stroke, and the anticholinergic intoxication syndrome. Peripheral symptoms of intoxication commonly include mydriasis, blurred vision, flushed face, fever, dry skin and mucous membranes, tachycardia, urinary retention, and constipation. Central symptoms may include memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, hallucinations, psychosis, delirium, hyperactivity, twitching or jerking movements, stereotypy, and seizures. Central nervous system-depressant effects may also be additively or synergistically increased when these agents are combined, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. Use of neuroleptics in combination with other neuroleptics or anticholinergic agents may increase the risk of tardive dyskinesia. In addition, some neuroleptics and tricyclic antidepressants may cause prolongation of the QT interval and theoretically, concurrent use of two or more drugs that can cause QT interval prolongation may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes and sudden death.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when agents with anticholinergic properties are combined, particularly in the elderly and those with underlying organic brain disease, who tend to be more sensitive to the central anticholinergic effects of these drugs and in whom toxicity symptoms may be easily overlooked. Patients should be advised to notify their physician promptly if they experience potential symptoms of anticholinergic intoxication such as abdominal pain, fever, heat intolerance, blurred vision, confusion, and/or hallucinations. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them. A reduction in anticholinergic dosages may be necessary if excessive adverse effects develop.

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MONITOR: Central nervous system- and/or respiratory-depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased in patients taking multiple drugs that cause these effects, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. Sedation and impairment of attention, judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills may increase.

MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of these drugs, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS and respiratory depression. Cautious dosage titration may be required, particularly at treatment initiation. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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MONITOR: Agents with anticholinergic properties (e.g., sedating antihistamines; antispasmodics; neuroleptics; phenothiazines; skeletal muscle relaxants; tricyclic antidepressants; disopyramide) may have additive effects when used in combination. Excessive parasympatholytic effects may result in paralytic ileus, hyperthermia, heat stroke, and the anticholinergic intoxication syndrome. Peripheral symptoms of intoxication commonly include mydriasis, blurred vision, flushed face, fever, dry skin and mucous membranes, tachycardia, urinary retention, and constipation. Central symptoms may include memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, hallucinations, psychosis, delirium, hyperactivity, twitching or jerking movements, stereotypy, and seizures. Central nervous system-depressant effects may also be additively or synergistically increased when these agents are combined, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. Use of neuroleptics in combination with other neuroleptics or anticholinergic agents may increase the risk of tardive dyskinesia. In addition, some neuroleptics and tricyclic antidepressants may cause prolongation of the QT interval and theoretically, concurrent use of two or more drugs that can cause QT interval prolongation may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes and sudden death.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when agents with anticholinergic properties are combined, particularly in the elderly and those with underlying organic brain disease, who tend to be more sensitive to the central anticholinergic effects of these drugs and in whom toxicity symptoms may be easily overlooked. Patients should be advised to notify their physician promptly if they experience potential symptoms of anticholinergic intoxication such as abdominal pain, fever, heat intolerance, blurred vision, confusion, and/or hallucinations. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them. A reduction in anticholinergic dosages may be necessary if excessive adverse effects develop.

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MONITOR: Coadministration with inducers of CYP450 3A4 may decrease the plasma concentrations of atorvastatin and its active metabolites, all of which are substrates of the isoenzyme. When atorvastatin (40 mg/day) was coadministered for 28 days with the potent CYP450 3A4 inducer phenytoin (4 mg/kg/day) in healthy volunteers (n=44), atorvastatin peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) decreased by an average of 24% and 54%, respectively. The Cmax of two active metabolites, 2-hydroxy- and 4-hydroxyatorvastatin, also decreased by an average of 22% and 52%, respectively, while AUC decreased by an average of 53% and 44%, respectively. Consistent with the observed pharmacokinetic interaction, there have been isolated reports of reduced efficacy of atorvastatin in the presence of phenytoin, followed by improved cholesterol levels after discontinuation of phenytoin. In another study, coadministration of the mixed CYP450 3A4 inducer/inhibitor efavirenz (600 mg once daily for 15 days) with atorvastatin (10 mg daily during the last 4 days of efavirenz) in 14 healthy volunteers resulted in median decreases of 43% in atorvastatin AUC and 34% in total active atorvastatin (parent drug + active metabolites) AUC. However, the median LDL decrease was not significantly different during coadministration with efavirenz compared to atorvastatin administered alone (-29 versus -22, respectively). Atorvastatin did not affect the AUC of efavirenz. In a study of patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving the CYP450 3A4 inducer bexarotene (400 mg/m2 orally once a day) plus either paclitaxel/carboplatin or cisplatin/vinorelbine chemotherapy, treatment with atorvastatin or fenofibrate was given to manage bexarotene-induced hyperlipidemia. Investigators reported that bexarotene decreased mean atorvastatin systemic exposure (dose-corrected AUC) by approximately 50%, whereas atorvastatin had no significant effect on bexarotene plasma concentrations. In 16 study subjects administered etravirine with atorvastatin 40 mg once a day, atorvastatin AUC decreased by 37%, while Cmax and AUC of 2-hydroxy-atorvastatin increased by 76% and 27%, respectively. Atorvastatin did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of etravirine.

MANAGEMENT: The potential for diminished pharmacologic effects of atorvastatin should be considered during coadministration with CYP450 3A4 inducers. Alternative agents with no or minimal CYP450 3A4 induction potential are recommended whenever possible. Otherwise, pharmacologic response to atorvastatin should be closely monitored, and the dosage adjusted as necessary. A statin that is not metabolized by CYP450 3A4 such as fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, or rosuvastatin may also be substituted for atorvastatin when used with certain enzyme inducers.

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