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Drug Interactions between buprenorphine and G-Tusicof

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

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Moderate

dextromethorphan buprenorphine

Applies to: G-Tusicof (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin / phenylephrine) and buprenorphine

MONITOR: Opioids may potentiate the effects of serotonergic agents and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. The interaction has primarily been reported with the phenylpiperidine opioids (e.g., meperidine, fentanyl) and tramadol, which are known to possess some serotonergic activity, although a few cases have involved other opioids such as oxycodone, methadone, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, and buprenorphine. Serotonin syndrome is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition thought to result from hyperstimulation of brainstem 5-HT1A and 2A receptors. Symptoms of the serotonin syndrome may include mental status changes such as irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, hallucinations, and coma; autonomic dysfunction such as tachycardia, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, shivering, blood pressure lability, and mydriasis; neuromuscular abnormalities such as hyperreflexia, myoclonus, tremor, rigidity, and ataxia; and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Since many serotonergic agents can also cause central nervous system depression, concomitant use with opioids may result in increased sedation and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when opioids are used concomitantly with serotonergic agents such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), other antidepressants/psychotropic agents (e.g., amoxapine, buspirone, lithium, maprotiline, mirtazepine, nefazodone, trazodone, vilazodone), 5-HT1 receptor agonists (triptans), 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, cyclobenzaprine, dextromethorphan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and St. John's wort. Patients should be monitored for symptoms of the serotonin syndrome during treatment. Particular caution is advised when increasing the dosages of these agents. If serotonin syndrome develops or is suspected during the course of therapy, all serotonergic agents should be discontinued immediately and supportive care rendered as necessary. Moderately ill patients may also benefit from the administration of a serotonin antagonist (e.g., cyproheptadine, chlorpromazine). Severe cases should be managed under consultation with a toxicologist and may require sedation, neuromuscular paralysis, intubation, and mechanical ventilation in addition to the other measures. Patients should also be advised of potentially additive central nervous system effects from these agents and to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them.

References

  1. Meyer D, Halfin V (1981) "Toxicity secondary to meperidine in patients on monoamine oxidase inhibitors: a case report and critical review." J Clin Psychopharmacol, 1, p. 319-21
  2. Zornberg GL, Bodkin JA, Cohen BM (1991) "Severe adverse interaction between pethidine and selegiline." Lancet, 337, p. 246
  3. Hansen TE, Dieter K, Keepers GA (1990) "Interaction of fluoxetine and pentazocine." Am J Psychiatry, 147, p. 949-50
  4. Sternbach H (1991) "The serotonin syndrome." Am J Psychiatry, 148, p. 705-13
  5. Noble WH, Baker A (1992) "MAO inhibitors and coronary artery surgery: a patient death." Can J Anaesth, 39, p. 1061-6
  6. Insler SR, Kraenzler EJ, Licina MG, Savage RM, Starr NJ (1994) "Cardiac surgery in a patient taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors - an adverse fentanyl reaction." Anesth Analg, 78, p. 593-7
  7. Mason BJ, Blackburn KH (1997) "Possible serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol and sertraline coadministration." Ann Pharmacother, 31, p. 175-7
  8. Mills KC (1997) "Serotonin syndrome: A clinical update." Crit Care Clin, 13, p. 763
  9. Chan BSH, Graudins A, Whyte IM, Dawson AH, Braitberg G, Duggin GG (1998) "Serotonin syndrome resulting from drug interactions." Med J Aust, 169, p. 523-5
  10. Egberts AC, ter Borg J, Brodie-Meijer CC (1997) "Serotonin syndrome attributed to tramadol addition to paroxetine therapy." Int Clin Psychopharmacol, 12, p. 181-2
  11. Rosebraugh CJ, floxkhart DA, Yasuda SU, Woosley RL (2001) "Visual hallucination and tremor induced by sertraline and oxycodone in a bone marrow transplant patient." J Clin Pharmacol, 41, p. 224-7
  12. Lange-Asschenfeldt C, Weigmann H, Hiemke C, Mann K (2002) "Serotonin syndrome as a result of fluoxetine in a patient with tramadol abuse: plasma level-correlated symptomatology." J Clin Psychopharmacol, 22, p. 440-1
  13. Kesavan S, Sobala GM (1999) "Serotonin syndrome with fluoxetine plus tramadol." J R Soc Med, 92, p. 474-5
  14. Gonzalez-Pinto A, Imaz H, De Heredia JL, Gutierrez M, Mico JA (2001) "Mania and tramadol-fluoxetine combination." Am J Psychiatry, 158, p. 964-5
  15. Dougherty JA, Young H, Shafi T (2002) "Serotonin syndrome induced by amitriptyline, meperidine, and venlafaxine." Ann Pharmacother, 36, p. 1647-1648
  16. Martin TG (1996) "Serotonin syndrome." Ann Emerg Med, 28, p. 520-6
  17. Tissot TA (2003) "Probable meperidine-induced serotonin syndrome in a patient with a history of fluoxetine use." Anesthesiology, 98, p. 1511-1512
  18. Roy S, Fortier LP (2003) "Fentanyl-induced rigidity during emergence from general anesthesia potentiated by venlafexine." Can J Anaesth, 50, p. 32-5
  19. Gillman PK (1995) "Possible serotonin syndrome with moclobemide and pethidine." Med J Aust, 162, p. 554
  20. Houlihan DJ (2004) "Serotonin syndrome resulting from coadministration of tramadol, venlafaxine, and mirtazapine." Ann Pharmacother, 38, p. 411-3
  21. (2004) "Venlafaxine + tramadol: serotonin syndrome." Prescrire Int, 13, p. 57
  22. Mahlberg R, Kunz D, Sasse J, Kirchheiner J (2004) "Serotonin syndrome with tramadol and citalopram." Am J Psychiatry, 161, p. 1129
  23. Mittino D, Mula M, Monaco F (2004) "Serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol-sertraline coadministration." Clin Neuropharmacol, 27, p. 150-1
  24. Lantz MS, Buchalter EN, Giambanco V (1998) "Serotonin syndrome following the administration of tramadol with paroxetine." Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 13, p. 343-5
  25. Gillman PK (2005) "Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid analgesics and serotonin toxicity." Br J Anaesth
  26. Kitson R, Carr B (2005) "Tramadol and severe serotonin syndrome." Anaesthesia, 60, p. 934-5
  27. Gnanadesigan N, Espinoza RT, Smith R, Israel M, Reuben DB (2005) "Interaction of serotonergic antidepressants and opioid analgesics: Is serotonin syndrome going undetected?" J Am Med Dir Assoc, 6, p. 265-9
  28. Hunter B, Kleinert MM, Osatnik J, Soria E (2006) "Serotonergic syndrome and abnormal ocular movements: worsening of rigidity by remifentanil?" Anesth Analg, 102, p. 1589
  29. Ailawadhi S, Sung KW, Carlson LA, Baer MR (2007) "Serotonin syndrome caused by interaction between citalopram and fentanyl." J Clin Pharm Ther, 32, p. 199-202
  30. Vizcaychipi MP, Walker S, Palazzo M (2007) "Serotonin syndrome triggered by tramadol." Br J Anaesth, 99, p. 919
  31. Das PK, Warkentin DI, Hewko R, Forrest DL (2008) "Serotonin syndrome after concomitant treatment with linezolid and meperidine." Clin Infect Dis, 46, p. 264-5
  32. Rang ST, Field J, Irving C (2008) "Serotonin toxicity caused by an interaction between fentanyl and paroxetine." Can J Anaesth, 55, p. 521-5
  33. Guo SL, Wu TJ, Liu CC, Ng CC, Chien CC, Sun HL (2009) "Meperidine-induced serotonin syndrome in a susceptible patient." Br J Anaesth
  34. Davis JJ, Buck NS, Swenson JD, Johnson KB, Greis PE (2013) "Serotonin syndrome manifesting as patient movement during total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil." J Clin Anesth, 25, p. 52-4
  35. Hillman AD, Witenko CJ, Sultan SM, Gala G (2015) "Serotonin syndrome caused by fentanyl and methadone in a burn injury." Pharmacotherapy, 35, p. 112-7
  36. Mateo-Carrasco H, Munoz-Aguilera EM, Garcia-Torrecillas JM, Abu Al-Robb H (2015) "Serotonin syndrome probably triggered by a morphine-phenelzine interaction." Pharmacotherapy, 35, e102-5
  37. Abadie D, Rousseau V, Logerot S, Cottin J, Montastruc JL, Montastruc F (2015) "Serotonin Syndrome: Analysis of Cases Registered in the French Pharmacovigilance Database." J Clin Psychopharmacol
  38. Shakoor M, Ayub S, Ahad A, Ayub Z (2014) "Transient serotonin syndrome caused by concurrent use of tramadol and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor." Am J Case Rep, 15, p. 562-4
  39. Larson KJ, Wittwer ED, Nicholson WT, Weingarten TN, Price DL, Sprung J (2015) "Myoclonus in patient on fluoxetine after receiving fentanyl and low-dose methylene blue during sentinel lymph node biopsy." J Clin Anesth, 27, p. 247-51
  40. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2018) FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about several safety issues with opioid pain medicines; requires label changes. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM491302.pdf
View all 40 references

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Drug and food interactions

Major

buprenorphine food

Applies to: buprenorphine

GENERALLY AVOID: Concomitant use of buprenorphine with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (e.g., nonbenzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, other opioids, alcohol) may increase the risk of buprenorphine overdose, severe respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reported cases have primarily occurred in the setting of buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opiate addiction, and many, but not all, involved abuse or misuse of buprenorphine including intravenous self-injection. The mechanism of interaction probably involves some degree of additive pharmacologic effects. Preclinical studies also suggest that benzodiazepines can alter the usual ceiling effect on buprenorphine-induced respiratory depression and render the respiratory effects of buprenorphine appear similar to those of full opioid agonists. Coadministration of buprenorphine with some CNS depressants such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and phenothiazines may also increase the risk of hypotension.

MANAGEMENT: The use of opioids in conjunction with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants should generally be avoided unless alternative treatment options are inadequate. If coadministration is necessary, the dosage and duration of each drug should be limited to the minimum required to achieve desired clinical effect. Patients should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation, and advised to avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until they know how these medications affect them. Extreme caution is advised when prescribing buprenorphine to patients who are addicted to opioids and also abusing benzodiazepines or alcohol. Due to potential risk of overdose and death, dependence on sedative-hypnotics such as benzodiazepines or alcohol is considered a relative contraindication for office-based buprenorphine treatment of opioid addiction. For patients who have been receiving extended therapy with both an opioid and a benzodiazepine and require discontinuation of either medication, a gradual tapering of dose is advised, since abrupt withdrawal may lead to withdrawal symptoms. Severe cases of benzodiazepine withdrawal, primarily in patients who have received excessive doses over a prolonged period, may result in numbness and tingling of extremities, hypersensitivity to light and noise, hallucinations, and epileptic seizures.

References

  1. (2002) "Product Information. Suboxone (buprenorphine-naloxone)." Reckitt and Colman Pharmaceuticals Inc
  2. Kilicarslan T, Sellers EM (2000) "Lack of interaction of buprenorphine with flunitrazepam metabolism." Am J Psychiatry, 157, p. 1164-6
  3. Reynaud M, Petit G, Potard D, Courty P (1998) "Six deaths linked to concomitant use of buprenorphine and benzodiazepines." Addiction, 93, p. 1385-92
  4. Tracqui A, Kintz P, Ludes B (1998) "Buprenorphine-related deaths among drug addicts in France: a report on 20 fatalities." J Anal Toxicol, 22, p. 430-4
  5. Reynaud M, Tracqui A, Petit G, Potard D, Courty P (1998) "Six deaths linked to misuse of buprenorphine-benzodiazepine combinations." Am J Psychiatry, 155, p. 448-9
  6. Kintz P (2002) "A new series of 13 buprenorphine-related deaths." Clin Biochem, 35, p. 513-6
  7. Martin HA (2011) "The possible consequences of combining lorazepam and buprenorphine/naloxone: a case review." J Emerg Nurs, 37, p. 200-2
  8. Hakkinen M, Launiainen T, Vuori E, Ojanpera I (2012) "Benzodiazepines and alcohol are associated with cases of fatal buprenorphine poisoning." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 68, p. 301-9
  9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US) (2013) Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 40 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64245/
  10. Schuman-Olivier Z, Hoeppner BB, Weiss RD, Borodovsky J, Shaffer HJ, Albanese MJ (2013) "Benzodiazepine use during buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence: clinical and safety outcomes." Drug Alcohol Depend, 132, p. 580-6
  11. Ferrant O, Papin F, Clin B, et al. (2011) "Fatal poisoning due to snorting buprenorphine and alcohol consumption." Forensic Sci Int, 204, e8-11
  12. Pirnay S, Borron SW, Giudicelli CP, Tourneau J, Baud FJ, Ricordel I (2004) "A critical review of the causes of death among post-morten toxicological investigations: analysis of 34 buprenorphine-associated and 35 methadone-associated deaths." Addiction, 99, p. 978-88
  13. Kintz P (2001) "Deaths involving buprenorphine: a compendium of French cases." Forensic Sci Int, 121, p. 65-9
  14. Sekar M, Mimpriss TJ (1987) "Buprenorphine, benzodiazepines and prolonged respiratory depression." Anaesthesia, 42, p. 567-8
  15. Gueye PN, Borron SW, Risede P, et al. (2002) "Buprenorphine and midazolalm act in combination to depress respiration in rats." Toxicol Sci, 65, p. 107-14
  16. US Food and Drug Administration (2016) FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines; requires its strongest warning. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM518672.pdf
View all 16 references

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Moderate

dextromethorphan food

Applies to: G-Tusicof (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin / phenylephrine)

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete 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.

References

  1. Warrington SJ, Ankier SI, Turner P (1986) "Evaluation of possible interactions between ethanol and trazodone or amitriptyline." Neuropsychobiology, 15, p. 31-7
  2. Gilman AG, eds., Nies AS, Rall TW, Taylor P (1990) "Goodman and Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics." New York, NY: Pergamon Press Inc.
  3. (2012) "Product Information. Fycompa (perampanel)." Eisai Inc
  4. (2015) "Product Information. Rexulti (brexpiprazole)." Otsuka American Pharmaceuticals Inc
View all 4 references

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Moderate

phenylephrine food

Applies to: G-Tusicof (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin / phenylephrine)

MONITOR: Coadministration of two or more sympathomimetic agents may increase the risk of adverse effects such as nervousness, irritability, and increased heart rate. Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, particularly amphetamines, can potentiate the adrenergic response to vasopressors and other sympathomimetic agents. Additive increases in blood pressure and heart rate may occur due to enhanced peripheral sympathetic activity.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if two or more sympathomimetic agents are coadministered. Pulse and blood pressure should be closely monitored.

References

  1. Rosenblatt JE, Lake CR, van Kammen DP, Ziegler MG, Bunney WE Jr (1979) "Interactions of amphetamine, pimozide, and lithium on plasma norepineophrine and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in schizophrenic patients." Psychiatry Res, 1, p. 45-52
  2. Cavanaugh JH, Griffith JD, Oates JA (1970) "Effect of amphetamine on the pressor response to tyramine: formation of p-hydroxynorephedrine from amphetamine in man." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 11, p. 656
  3. (2001) "Product Information. Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine)." Shire Richwood Pharmaceutical Company Inc
  4. (2001) "Product Information. Tenuate (diethylpropion)." Aventis Pharmaceuticals
  5. (2001) "Product Information. Sanorex (mazindol)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals
  6. (2001) "Product Information. Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)." Mikart Inc
  7. (2002) "Product Information. Strattera (atomoxetine)." Lilly, Eli and Company
View all 7 references

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Therapeutic duplication warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.


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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.