Drug Interactions between bedaquiline and pirfenidone

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food enhances the oral bioavailability of bedaquiline. When administered with a standard meal containing approximately 22 grams of fat (558 total Kcal), the relative bioavailability of bedaquiline increased by approximately 2-fold compared to administration under fasted conditions.

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with alcohol may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity associated with the use of bedaquiline. In clinical trials, hepatic adverse drug reactions developed in more bedaquiline-treated patients than in those who received other drugs used to treat tuberculosis. In patients receiving bedaquiline or placebo in combination with other drugs used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, reversible aminotransferase elevations of at least 3 times the upper limit of normal developed more frequently in the bedaquiline treatment group [10.8%] than in the placebo group [5.7%].

MANAGEMENT: To ensure maximal oral absorption, bedaquiline should be taken with food. Patients should avoid alcohol use during treatment.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food significantly slows the rate but only modestly reduces the extent of absorption of pirfenidone. In healthy, older adult volunteers aged 50 to 66 years, administration of a single 801 mg oral dose of pirfenidone in the fed state resulted in an approximately 50% reduction in peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and a 15% to 20% reduction in systemic exposure (AUC) compared to administration in the fasted state. Median time to reach peak concentration (Tmax) increased from 0.5 hours to 3 hours with food. Less nausea and dizziness were observed in fed subjects compared to fasted subjects.

GENERALLY AVOID: Consumption of grapefruit juice is associated with inhibition of CYP450 1A2 and may increase the plasma concentrations of pirfenidone, which is primarily metabolized by the isoenzyme.

GENERALLY AVOID: Cigarette smoking may reduce pirfenidone exposure due to induction of CYP450 1A2, the isoenzyme primarily responsible for the metabolic clearance of pirfenidone. Following a single 801 mg oral dose of pirfenidone in 25 smokers and 25 healthy nonsmokers, the Cmax and AUC of pirfenidone in smokers were 68% and 46% of those in nonsmokers, respectively.

MANAGEMENT: Pirfenidone should be administered with food to reduce the likelihood of dizziness and gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and vomiting. Patients who experience intolerance to therapy due to these adverse events should be reminded to take pirfenidone with food. If symptoms do not improve, or they worsen in severity, a dosage reduction or discontinuation of therapy may be warranted. Patients should be advised to avoid consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment with pirfenidone. Cigarette smoking should also be avoided during therapy to prevent reduced exposure to pirfenidone.