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Drug Interactions between Coartem and Cycrin

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

medroxyPROGESTERone artemether

Applies to: Cycrin (medroxyprogesterone) and Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine)

MONITOR: Coadministration with inducers of CYP450 3A4 may decrease the plasma concentrations and pharmacologic effects of medroxyprogesterone, which is primarily metabolized by the isoenzyme. Aminoglutethimide, a CYP450 3A4 inducer, has been shown to significantly decrease the serum levels of medroxyprogesterone by 50% or more when administered at 250 mg two to four times daily to women with breast cancer receiving high-dose medroxyprogesterone orally. The decrease was accompanied by an increase in serum cortisol level, which suggests diminished adrenal suppressive effect of medroxyprogesterone. The interaction has not been studied with depot formulations of medroxyprogesterone. Because the clearance of medroxyprogesterone is approximately equal to the rate of hepatic blood flow, drugs that induce CYP450 3A4 are not expected to significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of medroxyprogesterone administered parenterally. In one study, no interaction was reported when medroxyprogesterone was administered intravenously with aminoglutethimide.

MANAGEMENT: Pharmacologic response to medroxyprogesterone should be monitored more closely whenever a CYP450 3A4 inducer is added to or withdrawn from therapy, and the dosage adjusted as necessary. When administered as the depot formulation for contraception, no dosage adjustment for medroxyprogesterone is currently recommended during coadministration with CYP450 3A4 inducers. However, consideration may be given to decreasing the dosing interval (e.g., from one injection every 12 weeks to every 10 weeks) if an interaction is suspected.

References

  1. Lundgren S, Lonning PE, Aakvaag A, Kvinnsland S, Lnning PE (1990) "Influence of aminoglutethimide on the metabolism of medroxyprogesterone acetate and megestrol acetate in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer." Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 27, p. 101-5
  2. Halpenny O, Bye A, Cranny A, Feely J, Daly PA (1990) "Influence of aminoglutethimide on plasma levels of medroxyprogesterone acetate." Med Oncol Tumor Pharmacother, 7, p. 241-7
  3. (2001) "Product Information. Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone)." Pharmacia and Upjohn
  4. (2001) "Product Information. Provera (medroxyprogesterone)." Pharmacia and Upjohn
  5. Kobayashi K, Mimura N, Fujii H, et al. (2000) "Role of human cytochrome P450 3A4 in metabolism of medroxyprogesterone acetate." Clin Cancer Res, 6, p. 3297-303
  6. (2005) "FFPRHC Guidance (April 2005). Drug interactions with hormonal contraception." J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 31, p. 139-51
  7. O'Brien MD, Guillebaud J (2006) "Contraception for women with epilepsy." Epilepsia, 47, p. 1419-22
View all 7 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

lumefantrine food

Applies to: Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine)

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of artemether and lumefantrine. The mechanism is decreased clearance due to inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. High plasma levels of artemether and lumefantrine may increase the risk of QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes. In clinical trials, asymptomatic prolongation of the Fridericia-corrected QT interval (QTcF) by more than 30 msec from baseline was reported in approximately one-third of patients treated with artemether-lumefantrine, and prolongation by more than 60 msec was reported in more than 5% of patients. A few patients (0.4%) in the adult/adolescent population and no patient in the infant/children population experienced a QTcF greater than 500 msec. However, the possibility that these increases were disease-related cannot be ruled out. In a study of healthy adult volunteers, administration of the six-dose regimen of artemether-lumefantrine was associated with mean changes in QTcF from baseline of 7.45, 7.29, 6.12 and 6.84 msec at 68, 72, 96, and 108 hours after the first dose, respectively. There was a concentration-dependent increase in QTcF for lumefantrine. No subject had a greater than 30 msec increase from baseline nor an absolute increase to more than 500 msec.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food enhances the oral absorption of artemether and lumefantrine. In healthy volunteers, the relative bioavailability of artemether increased by two- to threefold and that of lumefantrine by sixteenfold when administered after a high-fat meal as opposed to under fasted conditions.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving artemether-lumefantrine therapy should avoid the consumption of grapefruits and grapefruit juice. To ensure maximal oral absorption, artemether-lumefantrine should be taken with food. Inadequate food intake can increase the risk for recrudescence of malaria. Patients who are averse to food during treatment should be closely monitored and encouraged to resume normal eating as soon as food can be tolerated.

References

  1. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."
  3. (2009) "Product Information. Coartem (artemether-lumefantrine)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals

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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.

See also

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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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