Drug Interactions between carbamazepine and etrasimod

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

In a small, randomized, crossover study, the administration of carbamazepine with grapefruit juice (compared to water) increased plasma drug concentrations by approximately 40%. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving carbamazepine should be advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Given the drug's narrow therapeutic index, patients receiving carbamazepine therapy should preferably avoid the regular consumption of grapefruits and grapefruit juice to prevent any undue fluctuations in plasma drug levels. Patients should be advised to report signs of carbamazepine toxicity (nausea, visual disturbances, dizziness, or ataxia) to their physicians.

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with moderate inhibitors of CYP450 3A4 such as grapefruit juice in patients who known or suspected to be poor CYP450 2C9 metabolizers may increase the exposure of etrasimod. Etrasimod is primarily metabolized by the isoenzymes CYP450 3A4, 2C8, and 2C9. Pharmacokinetic studies have reported that no single enzyme system appears to dominate the elimination pathway of etrasimod. Therefore, the involvement of multiple CYP450 isoforms reduces the likelihood of drug-drug interactions when only a single CYP450 isoform is strongly or moderately inhibited by a coadministered drug. In clinical drug interaction studies, when etrasimod was administered with the dual moderate CYP450 2C9 and 3A4 inhibitor fluconazole at steady-state levels, etrasimod systemic exposure (AUC) increased by 84%. However, concomitant use with the potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitor itraconazole increased the AUC of etrasimod by 32%, which was not considered by the manufacturer to be clinically significant. The effect on etrasimod systemic exposure in CYP450 2C9 intermediate metabolizers treated with less potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitors is not known. Increased plasma concentrations of etrasimod may increase the risk of infection, bradyarrhythmia, AV conduction delays, elevated transaminase levels, and macular edema.

MANAGEMENT: Until further information is available, the consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice in combination with moderate to potent CYP450 2C8 inhibitors such as gemfibrozil should be avoided or limited during treatment with etrasimod in patients who are poor CYP450 2C9 metabolizers. Caution is recommended with grapefruit products consumption in patients who are intermediate CYP450 2C9 metabolizers. Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they experience potential adverse effects of etrasimod.