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Drug Interactions between clomipramine and thalidomide

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

clomiPRAMINE thalidomide

Applies to: clomipramine and thalidomide

MONITOR: Thalidomide can commonly cause drowsiness/sedation and may have additive effects with other drugs that cause central nervous system (CNS) depression.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when thalidomide is used with other CNS depressants such as anticonvulsants, antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, opioids, and sedatives/hypnotics. Patients should be advised to avoid hazardous activities requiring 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. Dosage reductions may be necessary. Thalidomide should preferably be administered at bedtime to reduce the impact of somnolence. Alcohol use is not recommended.

MONITOR: Thalidomide can cause bradycardia and may have additive effects with other drugs that decrease heart rate. Cases of bradycardia have been associated with thalidomide use, some requiring medical interventions. The clinical significance and underlying aetiology of the bradycardia observed with thalidomide treatment have not been established. However, the potential for additive bradycardic effects should be considered when used with other drugs that slow cardiac conduction, including non-cardiac drugs such as lacosamide, lithium, and tricyclic antidepressants. Because bradycardia is a risk factor for torsade de pointes arrhythmia, concerns also exist when thalidomide is used with drugs that prolong the QT interval or cause torsade de pontes.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when thalidomide is used with drugs that can slow the heart rate or induce torsade de pointes arrhythmia. Patients should be monitored for bradycardia, atrioventricular block and syncope, and advised to seek medical attention if they experience dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or slow or irregular heartbeat. A dose reduction of thalidomide or discontinuation may be required.

References (3)
  1. (2001) "Product Information. Thalomid (thalidomide)." Celgene Corporation
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."

Drug and food interactions

Moderate

clomiPRAMINE food

Applies to: clomipramine

MONITOR: Limited data suggest that the administration of clomipramine with grapefruit juice or cranberry juice may significantly increase plasma drug concentrations of clomipramine. Clomipramine is initially demethylated by CYP450 1A2, 3A3 and 3A4 before undergoing further metabolism to 8-hydroxyclomipramine. The increase in clomipramine bioavailability may stem from inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. The precise mechanism by which cranberry juice exerts its effects is unknown, but may involve inhibition of CYP450 isoenzymes. This interaction has occasionally been exploited in attempts to improve symptomatic control of obsessive compulsive disorder.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving clomipramine therapy who ingest cranberry juice, grapefruits, or grapefruit juice should be monitored for adverse effects and undue fluctuations in plasma drug levels.

References (4)
  1. Oesterheld J, Kallepalli BR (1997) "Grapefruit juice and clomipramine: shifting metabolitic ratios." J Clin Psychopharmacol, 17, p. 62-3
  2. Bailey DG, Dresser GR, Kreeft JH, Munoz C, Freeman DJ, Bend JR (2000) "Grapefruit-felodipine interaction: Effect of unprocessed fruit and probable active ingredients." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 68, p. 468-77
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."
Moderate

thalidomide food

Applies to: thalidomide

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 (4)
  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
Moderate

clomiPRAMINE food

Applies to: clomipramine

GENERALLY AVOID: The combination of ethanol and a tricyclic antidepressant may result in additive impairment of motor skills, especially driving skills. Also, one study has suggested that clomipramine metabolism is significantly impaired for several weeks or more following discontinuation of chronic alcohol consumption.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be warned of this interaction and advised to limit their ethanol intake while taking tricyclic antidepressants. Monitoring for TCA toxicity (CNS depression, excessive anticholinergic effects, hypotension, arrhythmias) is recommended during alcohol withdrawal.

References (3)
  1. Seppala T, Linnoila M, Elonen E, Mattila MJ, Makl M (1975) "Effect of tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol on psychomotor skills related to driving." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 17, p. 515-22
  2. Berlin I, Cournot A, Zimmer R, et al. (1990) "Evaluation and comparison of the interaction between alcohol and moclobemide or clomipramine in healthy subjects." Psychopharmacology (Berl), 100, p. 40-5
  3. Balant-Gorgia AE, Gay M, Gex-Fabry M, Balant LP (1992) "Persistent impairment of clomipramine demethylation in recently detoxified alcoholic patients." Ther Drug Monit, 14, p. 119-24

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

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