Drug Interactions between Biltricide and metoprolol

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: The bioavailability of metoprolol may be enhanced by food.

MANAGEMENT: Patients may be instructed to take metoprolol at the same time each day, preferably with or immediately following meals.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration with food increases the oral bioavailability of praziquantel. The mechanism has not been described. In nine healthy volunteers, administration of praziquantel (1800 mg single oral dose) following a high-fat meal increased the mean praziquantel peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) by 243% and 180%, respectively, compared to administration under fasting conditions. Administration with a high-carbohydrate meal increased these values by 515% and 271%, respectively, compared to fasting. Overall, the relative bioavailability was increased by a factor of 2.72 and 3.98 with the high-fat and high-carbohydrate meals, respectively. The time to reach peak concentration (Tmax) and elimination half-life (T1/2) were not significantly altered.

Coadministration with grapefruit juice may increase the oral bioavailability of praziquantel. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall induced by certain compounds present in grapefruit. In 18 healthy volunteers, administration of praziquantel (1800 mg single oral dose) with 250 mL of commercially squeezed grapefruit juice resulted in increases in the mean praziquantel Cmax and AUC of 63% and 90%, respectively, compared to administration with water. The Tmax and T1/2 were not significantly altered. The pharmacokinetics of praziquantel were subject to a high degree of interpatient variability with and without grapefruit juice.

MANAGEMENT: To ensure maximal oral absorption, praziquantel should be administered with meals. Administration with grapefruit juice may further increase pharmacologic effects of praziquantel, including adverse effects such dizziness, abdominal discomfort, and nausea.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Concurrent administration with calcium salts may decrease the oral bioavailability of atenolol and possibly other beta-blockers. The exact mechanism of interaction is unknown. In six healthy subjects, calcium 500 mg (as lactate, carbonate, and gluconate) reduced the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of atenolol (100 mg) by 51% and 32%, respectively. The elimination half-life increased by 44%. Twelve hours after the combination, beta-blocking activity (as indicated by inhibition of exercise tachycardia) was reduced compared to that with atenolol alone. However, during a 4-week treatment in six hypertensive patients, there was no difference in blood pressure values between treatments. The investigators suggest that prolongation of the elimination half-life induced by calcium coadministration may have led to atenolol cumulation during long-term dosing, which compensated for the reduced bioavailability.

MANAGEMENT: It may help to separate the administration times of beta-blockers and calcium products by at least 2 hours. Patients should be monitored for potentially diminished beta-blocking effects following the addition of calcium therapy.