Drug Interactions between budesonide / formoterol / glycopyrrolate and Chewable-Vite with Iron

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Concomitant use of some oral medications may reduce the bioavailability of orally administered iron, and vice versa.

Food taken in conjunction with oral iron supplements may reduce the bioavailability of the iron. However, in many patients intolerable gastrointestinal side effects occur necessitating administration with food.

MANAGEMENT: Ideally, iron products should be taken on an empty stomach (i.e., at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals), but if this is not possible, administer with meals and monitor the patient more closely for a subtherapeutic effect. Some studies suggest administration of iron with ascorbic acid may enhance bioavailability. In addition, administration of oral iron products and some oral medications should be separated whenever the bioavailability of either agent may be decreased. Consult the product labeling for specific separation times and monitor clinical responses as appropriate.

GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations and systemic effects of orally administered budesonide. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. According to the manufacturer, the systemic exposure of oral budesonide approximately doubles after extensive intake of grapefruit juice.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving budesonide should avoid the regular consumption of grapefruits and grapefruit juice to prevent undue increases in plasma budesonide levels and systemic effects.

GENERALLY AVOID: Use of anticholinergic agents with alcohol may result in sufficient impairment of attention so as to render driving and operating machinery more hazardous. In addition, the potential for abuse may be increased with the combination. The mechanism of interaction is not established but may involve additive depressant effects on the central nervous system. No effect of oral propantheline or atropine on blood alcohol levels was observed in healthy volunteers when administered before ingestion of a standard ethanol load. However, one study found impairment of attention in subjects given atropine 0.5 mg or glycopyrrolate 1 mg in combination with alcohol.

MANAGEMENT: Alcohol should generally be avoided during therapy with anticholinergic agents. Patients should be counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them.