Drug Interactions between calcium carbonate / melatonin / valerian / vitamin e and tipranavir

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration with food may increase the absorption of calcium. However, foods high in oxalic acid (spinach or rhubarb), or phytic acid (bran and whole grains) may decrease calcium absorption.

MANAGEMENT: Calcium may be administered with food to increase absorption. Consider withholding calcium administration for at least 2 hours before or after consuming foods high in oxalic acid or phytic acid.

MONITOR: Oral caffeine may significantly increase the bioavailability of melatonin. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 1A2 first-pass metabolism. After administration of melatonin 6 mg and caffeine 200 mg orally (approximately equivalent to 1 large cup of coffee) to 12 healthy subjects, the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of melatonin increased by 137% and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) increased by 120%. The metabolic inhibition was greater in nonsmokers (n=6) than in smokers (n=6). The greatest effect was seen in subjects with the *1F/*1F genotype (n=7), whose melatonin Cmax increased by 202%. The half-life did not change significantly. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown.

According to some authorities, alcohol may reduce the effect of melatonin on sleep. The mechanism of this interaction is not fully understood.

In addition, CYP450 1A2 inducers like cigarette smoking may reduce exogenous melatonin plasma levels. In a small clinical trial (n=8), habitual smokers had their melatonin plasma levels measured two times, each after a single oral dose of 25 mg of melatonin. They had smoked prior to the first measurement but had not smoked for 7 days prior to the second. Cigarette smoking significantly reduced melatonin plasma exposure (AUC) as compared to melatonin levels after 7 days of smoking abstinence (7.34 +/- 1.85 versus 21.07 +/- 7.28 nmol/L*h, respectively).

MANAGEMENT: Caution and monitoring are recommended if melatonin is used with inhibitors of CYP450 1A2 like caffeine or inducers of CYP450 1A2 like cigarette smoking. Consumption of alcohol should be avoided when taking melatonin.

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.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food does not appear to substantially alter the pharmacokinetics of tipranavir. When tipranavir capsules or oral solution was coadministered with ritonavir capsules at steady-state, no clinically significant changes in tipranavir peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) were observed under fed conditions (500 to 682 kcal, 23% to 25% calories from fat) relative to fasted conditions. The effect of food on tipranavir exposure during coadministration with ritonavir tablets has not been evaluated. High-fat foods may enhance the gastrointestinal absorption of tipranavir. In a multiple-dose study, administration of tipranavir capsules with a high-fat meal (868 kcal, 53% from fat, 31% from carbohydrates) increased the oral bioavailability of tipranavir by 31% compared to administration with toast and skimmed milk, but did not significantly affect tipranavir Cmax. Thus, tipranavir may be safely taken with standard or high-fat meals.

MANAGEMENT: Tipranavir coadministered with low-dose ritonavir should be taken with food to improve the gastrointestinal tolerability of ritonavir. According to the product labeling, tipranavir coadministered with ritonavir capsules or solution can be taken with or without meals, whereas tipranavir coadministered with ritonavir tablets must be taken with meals.