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Can you take Bendamustine with Teriflunomide?

1 drug interaction and 17 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Drug interactions

Major drug interactions

Major:

bendamustine teriflunomide

Applies to: bendamustine and teriflunomide

Using teriflunomide together with bendamustine may increase the risk of serious infections. Because teriflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop signs and symptoms of infection such as fever, chills, diarrhea, sore throat, muscle aches, shortness of breath, blood in phlegm, weight loss, red or inflamed skin, body sores, and pain or burning during urination. 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.

Food/lifestyle interactions

No alcohol/food interactions were found. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Disease interactions

17 potential interactions Applies to: 13 conditions, including High Blood Pressure, Peripheral Neuropathy, Diabetes Mellitus, Liver Disease, and Interstitial Lung Disease.

Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts

Moderate:

bendamustine

Bendamustine has a moderate potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.

Adult and pediatric patients treated with bendamustine have experienced Infection, including pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, and death. Patients with myelosuppression following treatment with bendamustine hydrochloride are more susceptible to infections. Therapy with bendamustine should be administered cautiously in patients with compromised bone marrow reserve. Monitor complete blood counts, including leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin (Hgb), and neutrophils frequently.

Moderate:

bendamustine

Bendamustine has a moderate potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.

Infection, including pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, hepatitis, and death has occurred in adult and pediatric patients treated with bendamustine. Care should be exercised when using this drug in patients whose bone marrow reserve may be severely depressed as these patients could be more susceptible to infections. Patients treated with this drug are at risk for reactivation of infections including (but not limited to) hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and herpes zoster. It is recommended to advise patients with myelosuppression following treatment with this agent to contact a physician immediately if they have symptoms or signs of infection. Before starting treatment, patients should undergo appropriate measures (including clinical and laboratory monitoring, prophylaxis, and treatment) for infection and infection reactivation risks.

Diabetes Mellitus

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Diabetes Mellitus.

Peripheral neuropathy, including both polyneuropathy and mononeuropathy (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), has been reported with the use of teriflunomide. Age older than 60 years, concomitant neurotoxic medications, and diabetes may increase the risk for peripheral neuropathy. Care should be taken when prescribing this agent to patients at risk and if a patient develops symptoms consistent with peripheral neuropathy, such as bilateral numbness or tingling of hands or feet, consider discontinuing teriflunomide therapy and performing an accelerated elimination procedure.

High Blood Pressure

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with High Blood Pressure.

Teriflunomide may increase the blood pressure. Caution should be taken when using this agent in hypertensive patients. It is recommended to check blood pressure before the start of teriflunomide treatment and periodically thereafter and elevated blood pressure should be appropriately managed during treatment with teriflunomide.

Immunodeficiency

Major:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a major potential interaction with Immunodeficiency.

Immunosuppressive agents may increase the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Certain agents are contraindicated in patients who have or have had PML. Patients receiving chronic immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory therapy or who have systemic medical conditions resulting in significantly compromised immune system function should not be treated with these agents. Health care professionals should monitor patients for any new sign or symptom suggestive of PML. Therapy dosing should be withheld immediately and an appropriate diagnostic evaluation should be performed at the first sign or symptom suggestive of PML.

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Immunodeficiency.

Cases of decrease in white blood cell count and in platelet count have been observed with the use teriflunomide. Care should be taken when using this agent in immunosuppressed patients. It is recommended to obtain a complete blood cell count within 6 months before the initiation of treatment and further monitoring should be based on signs and symptoms suggestive of bone marrow suppression.

Infection

Major:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a major potential interaction with Infection.

Serious and sometimes fatal infections have been reported in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents. Patients receiving immunosuppressants are at increased risk of developing bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections, and new or reactivated viral infections including opportunistic infections. Caution should be exercised when considering their use in patients with severe or chronic infections. It is recommended to interrupt therapy in patients who develop a new infection while undergoing treatment and to monitor these patients closely for any sign or symptom indicative of infection.

Moderate:

bendamustine

Bendamustine has a moderate potential interaction with Infection.

Infection, including pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, hepatitis, and death has occurred in adult and pediatric patients treated with bendamustine. Care should be exercised when using this drug in patients whose bone marrow reserve may be severely depressed as these patients could be more susceptible to infections. Patients treated with this drug are at risk for reactivation of infections including (but not limited to) hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and herpes zoster. It is recommended to advise patients with myelosuppression following treatment with this agent to contact a physician immediately if they have symptoms or signs of infection. Before starting treatment, patients should undergo appropriate measures (including clinical and laboratory monitoring, prophylaxis, and treatment) for infection and infection reactivation risks.

Interstitial Lung Disease

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Interstitial lung disease and worsening of preexisting interstitial lung disease, including acute interstitial pneumonitis, have been reported during treatment with teriflunomide. Caution should be exercised when prescribing this agent to patients with pulmonary complication. New onset or worsening pulmonary symptoms, such as cough and dyspnea, with or without associated fever, may be a reason for discontinuation of therapy and if discontinuation of the drug is necessary, consider initiation of an accelerated elimination procedure.

Liver Disease

Major:

bendamustine

Bendamustine has a major potential interaction with Liver Disease.

Bendamustine injection should be used with caution in patients with hepatic impairment. Bendamustine injection should not be used in patients with moderate (AST or ALT 2.5 to 10 X ULN and total bilirubin 1.5 to 3 X ULN) or severe (total bilirubin greater than 3 X ULN) hepatic impairment.

Major:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a major potential interaction with Liver Disease.

Teriflunomide is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. No dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment. Severe liver injury including fatal liver failure have been reported in patients treated with leflunomide. A similar risk would be expected for teriflunomide because recommended doses of teriflunomide and leflunomide result in a similar range of plasma concentrations of teriflunomide. Concomitant use of teriflunomide with other potentially hepatotoxic drugs may increase the risk of severe liver injury. If drug-induced liver injury is suspected, discontinue therapy with teriflunomide and start an accelerated elimination procedure with cholestyramine or charcoal. Patients with preexisting liver disease may be at increased risk of developing elevated serum transaminases while on therapy with teriflunomide. It is recommended to obtain transaminase and bilirubin levels within 6 months before initiation of therapy. Monitor ALT levels at least monthly for six months after starting therapy.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Peripheral Neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy, including both polyneuropathy and mononeuropathy (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), has been reported with the use of teriflunomide. Age older than 60 years, concomitant neurotoxic medications, and diabetes may increase the risk for peripheral neuropathy. Care should be taken when prescribing this agent to patients at risk and if a patient develops symptoms consistent with peripheral neuropathy, such as bilateral numbness or tingling of hands or feet, consider discontinuing teriflunomide therapy and performing an accelerated elimination procedure.

Pulmonary Impairment

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Pulmonary Impairment.

Interstitial lung disease and worsening of preexisting interstitial lung disease, including acute interstitial pneumonitis, have been reported during treatment with teriflunomide. Caution should be exercised when prescribing this agent to patients with pulmonary complication. New onset or worsening pulmonary symptoms, such as cough and dyspnea, with or without associated fever, may be a reason for discontinuation of therapy and if discontinuation of the drug is necessary, consider initiation of an accelerated elimination procedure.

Renal Dysfunction

Major:

bendamustine

Bendamustine has a major potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.

Bendamustine injection should be used with caution in patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. Bendamustine injection should not be used in patients with CrCL < 40 mL/min.

Tuberculosis, Active

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Tuberculosis, Active.

Cases of tuberculosis have been observed with the use of teriflunomide. It is recommended to screen patients for latent tuberculosis infection before initiating therapy with teriflunomide. The safety of teriflunomide in patients with a positive tuberculosis screen, and in individuals with latent tuberculosis infection is unknown. Care should be exercised and in those patients testing positive, standard medical practice treatment should be given prior to teriflunomide therapy initiation.

Tuberculosis, Latent

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Tuberculosis, Latent.

Cases of tuberculosis have been observed with the use of teriflunomide. It is recommended to screen patients for latent tuberculosis infection before initiating therapy with teriflunomide. The safety of teriflunomide in patients with a positive tuberculosis screen, and in individuals with latent tuberculosis infection is unknown. Care should be exercised and in those patients testing positive, standard medical practice treatment should be given prior to teriflunomide therapy initiation.

Vaccination

Moderate:

teriflunomide

Teriflunomide has a moderate potential interaction with Vaccination.

Vaccination with live vaccines is not recommended in patients treated with teriflunomide. No clinical data are available on the efficacy and safety of live vaccinations in patients taking teriflunomide. The long half-life of teriflunomide should be considered when contemplating administration of a live vaccine after stopping treatment.

More resources

bendamustine

A total of 313 drugs are known to interact with bendamustine.

teriflunomide

A total of 783 drugs are known to interact with teriflunomide.

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.