Drug Interactions between carbamazepine and Qulipta

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.

MONITOR: Coadministration with grapefruit products or green tea, inhibitors of CYP450 3A4, may increase the plasma concentrations of atogepant, which is primarily metabolized by the isoenzyme. When atogepant was administered with the potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitor itraconazole in healthy study subjects, atogepant peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by approximately 2.2- and 5.5-fold, respectively. However, moderate and weak inhibitors may interact to a much lesser extent. Population pharmacokinetic modeling has suggested that moderate (e.g., cyclosporine, ciprofloxacin, fluconazole, fluvoxamine, grapefruit juice) or weak (e.g., cimetidine, esomeprazole) CYP450 3A4 inhibitors may increase atogepant AUC by 1.7- and 1.1-fold, respectively. The changes in atogepant exposure when coadministered with moderate or weak CYP450 3A4 inhibitors are not expected to be clinically significant.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised for patients taking atogepant and consuming grapefruit products, large amounts of green tea beverages or green tea extract. Patients should be monitored for nausea, constipation, and fatigue.