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Drug Interactions between Delsym Children’s Cough+ Chest Congestion DM and M-Clear

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

codeine dextromethorphan

Applies to: M-Clear (codeine / guaifenesin) and Delsym Children’s Cough+ Chest Congestion DM (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin)

MONITOR: Opioids may potentiate the effects of serotonergic agents and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. The interaction has primarily been reported with the phenylpiperidine opioids (e.g., meperidine, fentanyl) and tramadol, which are known to possess some serotonergic activity, although a few cases have involved other opioids such as oxycodone, methadone, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, and buprenorphine. Serotonin syndrome is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition thought to result from hyperstimulation of brainstem 5-HT1A and 2A receptors. Symptoms of the serotonin syndrome may include mental status changes such as irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, hallucinations, and coma; autonomic dysfunction such as tachycardia, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, shivering, blood pressure lability, and mydriasis; neuromuscular abnormalities such as hyperreflexia, myoclonus, tremor, rigidity, and ataxia; and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Since many serotonergic agents can also cause central nervous system depression, concomitant use with opioids may result in increased sedation and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when opioids are used concomitantly with serotonergic agents such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), other antidepressants/psychotropic agents (e.g., amoxapine, buspirone, lithium, maprotiline, mirtazepine, nefazodone, trazodone, vilazodone), 5-HT1 receptor agonists (triptans), 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, cyclobenzaprine, dextromethorphan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and St. John's wort. Patients should be monitored for symptoms of the serotonin syndrome during treatment. Particular caution is advised when increasing the dosages of these agents. If serotonin syndrome develops or is suspected during the course of therapy, all serotonergic agents should be discontinued immediately and supportive care rendered as necessary. Moderately ill patients may also benefit from the administration of a serotonin antagonist (e.g., cyproheptadine, chlorpromazine). Severe cases should be managed under consultation with a toxicologist and may require sedation, neuromuscular paralysis, intubation, and mechanical ventilation in addition to the other measures. Patients should also be advised of potentially additive central nervous system effects from these agents and to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them.

References

  1. Meyer D, Halfin V (1981) "Toxicity secondary to meperidine in patients on monoamine oxidase inhibitors: a case report and critical review." J Clin Psychopharmacol, 1, p. 319-21
  2. Zornberg GL, Bodkin JA, Cohen BM (1991) "Severe adverse interaction between pethidine and selegiline." Lancet, 337, p. 246
  3. Hansen TE, Dieter K, Keepers GA (1990) "Interaction of fluoxetine and pentazocine." Am J Psychiatry, 147, p. 949-50
  4. Sternbach H (1991) "The serotonin syndrome." Am J Psychiatry, 148, p. 705-13
  5. Noble WH, Baker A (1992) "MAO inhibitors and coronary artery surgery: a patient death." Can J Anaesth, 39, p. 1061-6
  6. Insler SR, Kraenzler EJ, Licina MG, Savage RM, Starr NJ (1994) "Cardiac surgery in a patient taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors - an adverse fentanyl reaction." Anesth Analg, 78, p. 593-7
  7. Mason BJ, Blackburn KH (1997) "Possible serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol and sertraline coadministration." Ann Pharmacother, 31, p. 175-7
  8. Mills KC (1997) "Serotonin syndrome: A clinical update." Crit Care Clin, 13, p. 763
  9. Chan BSH, Graudins A, Whyte IM, Dawson AH, Braitberg G, Duggin GG (1998) "Serotonin syndrome resulting from drug interactions." Med J Aust, 169, p. 523-5
  10. Egberts AC, ter Borg J, Brodie-Meijer CC (1997) "Serotonin syndrome attributed to tramadol addition to paroxetine therapy." Int Clin Psychopharmacol, 12, p. 181-2
  11. Rosebraugh CJ, floxkhart DA, Yasuda SU, Woosley RL (2001) "Visual hallucination and tremor induced by sertraline and oxycodone in a bone marrow transplant patient." J Clin Pharmacol, 41, p. 224-7
  12. Lange-Asschenfeldt C, Weigmann H, Hiemke C, Mann K (2002) "Serotonin syndrome as a result of fluoxetine in a patient with tramadol abuse: plasma level-correlated symptomatology." J Clin Psychopharmacol, 22, p. 440-1
  13. Kesavan S, Sobala GM (1999) "Serotonin syndrome with fluoxetine plus tramadol." J R Soc Med, 92, p. 474-5
  14. Gonzalez-Pinto A, Imaz H, De Heredia JL, Gutierrez M, Mico JA (2001) "Mania and tramadol-fluoxetine combination." Am J Psychiatry, 158, p. 964-5
  15. Dougherty JA, Young H, Shafi T (2002) "Serotonin syndrome induced by amitriptyline, meperidine, and venlafaxine." Ann Pharmacother, 36, p. 1647-1648
  16. Martin TG (1996) "Serotonin syndrome." Ann Emerg Med, 28, p. 520-6
  17. Tissot TA (2003) "Probable meperidine-induced serotonin syndrome in a patient with a history of fluoxetine use." Anesthesiology, 98, p. 1511-1512
  18. Roy S, Fortier LP (2003) "Fentanyl-induced rigidity during emergence from general anesthesia potentiated by venlafexine." Can J Anaesth, 50, p. 32-5
  19. Gillman PK (1995) "Possible serotonin syndrome with moclobemide and pethidine." Med J Aust, 162, p. 554
  20. Houlihan DJ (2004) "Serotonin syndrome resulting from coadministration of tramadol, venlafaxine, and mirtazapine." Ann Pharmacother, 38, p. 411-3
  21. (2004) "Venlafaxine + tramadol: serotonin syndrome." Prescrire Int, 13, p. 57
  22. Mahlberg R, Kunz D, Sasse J, Kirchheiner J (2004) "Serotonin syndrome with tramadol and citalopram." Am J Psychiatry, 161, p. 1129
  23. Mittino D, Mula M, Monaco F (2004) "Serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol-sertraline coadministration." Clin Neuropharmacol, 27, p. 150-1
  24. Lantz MS, Buchalter EN, Giambanco V (1998) "Serotonin syndrome following the administration of tramadol with paroxetine." Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 13, p. 343-5
  25. Gillman PK (2005) "Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid analgesics and serotonin toxicity." Br J Anaesth
  26. Kitson R, Carr B (2005) "Tramadol and severe serotonin syndrome." Anaesthesia, 60, p. 934-5
  27. Gnanadesigan N, Espinoza RT, Smith R, Israel M, Reuben DB (2005) "Interaction of serotonergic antidepressants and opioid analgesics: Is serotonin syndrome going undetected?" J Am Med Dir Assoc, 6, p. 265-9
  28. Hunter B, Kleinert MM, Osatnik J, Soria E (2006) "Serotonergic syndrome and abnormal ocular movements: worsening of rigidity by remifentanil?" Anesth Analg, 102, p. 1589
  29. Ailawadhi S, Sung KW, Carlson LA, Baer MR (2007) "Serotonin syndrome caused by interaction between citalopram and fentanyl." J Clin Pharm Ther, 32, p. 199-202
  30. Vizcaychipi MP, Walker S, Palazzo M (2007) "Serotonin syndrome triggered by tramadol." Br J Anaesth, 99, p. 919
  31. Das PK, Warkentin DI, Hewko R, Forrest DL (2008) "Serotonin syndrome after concomitant treatment with linezolid and meperidine." Clin Infect Dis, 46, p. 264-5
  32. Rang ST, Field J, Irving C (2008) "Serotonin toxicity caused by an interaction between fentanyl and paroxetine." Can J Anaesth, 55, p. 521-5
  33. Guo SL, Wu TJ, Liu CC, Ng CC, Chien CC, Sun HL (2009) "Meperidine-induced serotonin syndrome in a susceptible patient." Br J Anaesth
  34. Davis JJ, Buck NS, Swenson JD, Johnson KB, Greis PE (2013) "Serotonin syndrome manifesting as patient movement during total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil." J Clin Anesth, 25, p. 52-4
  35. Hillman AD, Witenko CJ, Sultan SM, Gala G (2015) "Serotonin syndrome caused by fentanyl and methadone in a burn injury." Pharmacotherapy, 35, p. 112-7
  36. Mateo-Carrasco H, Munoz-Aguilera EM, Garcia-Torrecillas JM, Abu Al-Robb H (2015) "Serotonin syndrome probably triggered by a morphine-phenelzine interaction." Pharmacotherapy, 35, e102-5
  37. Abadie D, Rousseau V, Logerot S, Cottin J, Montastruc JL, Montastruc F (2015) "Serotonin Syndrome: Analysis of Cases Registered in the French Pharmacovigilance Database." J Clin Psychopharmacol
  38. Shakoor M, Ayub S, Ahad A, Ayub Z (2014) "Transient serotonin syndrome caused by concurrent use of tramadol and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor." Am J Case Rep, 15, p. 562-4
  39. Larson KJ, Wittwer ED, Nicholson WT, Weingarten TN, Price DL, Sprung J (2015) "Myoclonus in patient on fluoxetine after receiving fentanyl and low-dose methylene blue during sentinel lymph node biopsy." J Clin Anesth, 27, p. 247-51
  40. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2018) FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about several safety issues with opioid pain medicines; requires label changes. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM491302.pdf
View all 40 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

dextromethorphan food

Applies to: Delsym Children’s Cough+ Chest Congestion DM (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin)

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

  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
View all 4 references

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Moderate

codeine food

Applies to: M-Clear (codeine / guaifenesin)

GENERALLY AVOID: Ethanol may potentiate the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects of opioid analgesics. Concomitant use may result in additive CNS depression and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In more severe cases, hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, or even death may occur.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of opioid analgesics with ethanol should be avoided.

References

  1. Linnoila M, Hakkinen S (1974) "Effects of diazepam and codeine, alone and in combination with alcohol, on simulated driving." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 15, p. 368-73
  2. Sturner WQ, Garriott JC (1973) "Deaths involving propoxyphene: a study of 41 cases over a two-year period." JAMA, 223, p. 1125-30
  3. Girre C, Hirschhorn M, Bertaux L, et al. (1991) "Enhancement of propoxyphene bioavailability by ethanol: relation to psychomotor and cognitive function in healthy volunteers." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 41, p. 147-52
  4. Levine B, Saady J, Fierro M, Valentour J (1984) "A hydromorphone and ethanol fatality." J Forensic Sci, 29, p. 655-9
  5. Sellers EM, Hamilton CA, Kaplan HL, Degani NC, Foltz RL (1985) "Pharmacokinetic interaction of propoxyphene with ethanol." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 19, p. 398-401
  6. Carson DJ (1977) "Fatal dextropropoxyphene poisoning in Northern Ireland. Review of 30 cases." Lancet, 1, p. 894-7
  7. Rosser WW (1980) "The interaction of propoxyphene with other drugs." Can Med Assoc J, 122, p. 149-50
  8. Edwards C, Gard PR, Handley SL, Hunter M, Whittington RM (1982) "Distalgesic and ethanol-impaired function." Lancet, 2, p. 384
  9. Kiplinger GF, Sokol G, Rodda BE (1974) "Effect of combined alcohol and propoxyphene on human performance." Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther, 212, p. 175-80
View all 9 references

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Therapeutic duplication warnings

Therapeutic duplication is the use of more than one medicine from the same drug category or therapeutic class to treat the same condition. This can be intentional in cases where drugs with similar actions are used together for demonstrated therapeutic benefit. It can also be unintentional in cases where a patient has been treated by more than one doctor, or had prescriptions filled at more than one pharmacy, and can have potentially adverse consequences.

Duplication

Expectorants

Therapeutic duplication

The recommended maximum number of medicines in the 'expectorants' category to be taken concurrently is usually one. Your list includes two medicines belonging to the 'expectorants' category:

  • Delsym Children’s Cough+ Chest Congestion DM (dextromethorphan/guaifenesin)
  • M-Clear (codeine/guaifenesin)

Note: In certain circumstances, the benefits of taking this combination of drugs may outweigh any risks. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or dosage.

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

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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