Drug Interactions between droperidol and ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir

Using droPERidol together with ethanol (alcohol) can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether together or alone. In addition, you should let your doctor know if you experience signs of electrolyte disturbance such as weakness, tiredness, drowsiness, confusion, muscle pain, cramps, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Ritonavir should be taken with food to lessen gastrointestinal side effects. It is important that you take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your treatment or stop treatment without first talking to your doctor.

Food significantly increases the absorption of paritaprevir. You should take each dose of paritaprevir with a meal. Taking it on an empty stomach may lead to inadequate blood levels and reduced effectiveness of the medication.

As you stop smoking during treatment with nicotine, your dosage requirement of droPERidol may need to be changed. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Cases of QT prolongation and/or torsade de pointes have been reported in patients receiving droperidol at doses at or below recommended doses. Extreme caution is recommended when using this agent in patients with risk factors for development of prolonged QT syndrome, such as clinically significant bradycardia, any clinically significant cardiac disease, treatment with Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics, treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), concomitant treatment with other drug products known to prolong the QT interval, and electrolyte imbalance, in particular hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, or concomitant treatment with drugs that may cause electrolyte imbalance. It is advisable that all patients undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec. for males or 450 msec. for females) is present. If there is a prolonged QT interval, droperidol should not be administered.

Cases of QT prolongation and/or torsade de pointes have been reported in patients receiving droperidol at doses at or below recommended doses. Extreme caution is recommended when using this agent in patients with risk factors for development of prolonged QT syndrome, such as clinically significant bradycardia, any clinically significant cardiac disease, treatment with Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics, treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), concomitant treatment with other drug products known to prolong the QT interval, and electrolyte imbalance, in particular hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, or concomitant treatment with drugs that may cause electrolyte imbalance. It is advisable that all patients undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec. for males or 450 msec. for females) is present. If there is a prolonged QT interval, droperidol should not be administered.

HBV reactivation has been reported during or after completion of HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy in HCV/HBV-coinfected patients who were not receiving HBV antiviral therapy; some cases resulted in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death. Cases have been reported in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients and patients with serologic evidence of resolved HBV infection (i.e., HBsAg negative and hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc] positive). HBV reactivation has also been reported in patients using certain immunosuppressant or chemotherapeutic agents; risk of HBV reactivation associated with HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy may be increased in these patients. All patients should be tested for evidence of current or prior HBV infection by measuring HBsAg and anti-HBc before starting HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy. Patients with serologic evidence of current or prior HBV infection should be monitored for clinical and laboratory signs of hepatitis flare or HBV reactivation during HCV therapy and posttherapy follow-up; appropriate patient management for HBV infection should be started as clinically indicated.

HBV reactivation has been reported during or after completion of HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy in HCV/HBV-coinfected patients who were not receiving HBV antiviral therapy; some cases resulted in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death. Cases have been reported in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients and patients with serologic evidence of resolved HBV infection (i.e., HBsAg negative and hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc] positive). HBV reactivation has also been reported in patients using certain immunosuppressant or chemotherapeutic agents; risk of HBV reactivation associated with HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy may be increased in these patients. All patients should be tested for evidence of current or prior HBV infection by measuring HBsAg and anti-HBc before starting HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy. Patients with serologic evidence of current or prior HBV infection should be monitored for clinical and laboratory signs of hepatitis flare or HBV reactivation during HCV therapy and posttherapy follow-up; appropriate patient management for HBV infection should be started as clinically indicated.

The use of drugs containing paritaprevir in combination with ombitasvir and ritonavir is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C). No dosage adjustment is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh A).

Cases of QT prolongation and/or torsade de pointes have been reported in patients receiving droperidol at doses at or below recommended doses. Extreme caution is recommended when using this agent in patients with risk factors for development of prolonged QT syndrome, such as clinically significant bradycardia, any clinically significant cardiac disease, treatment with Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics, treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), concomitant treatment with other drug products known to prolong the QT interval, and electrolyte imbalance, in particular hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, or concomitant treatment with drugs that may cause electrolyte imbalance. It is advisable that all patients undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec. for males or 450 msec. for females) is present. If there is a prolonged QT interval, droperidol should not be administered.

The use of droperidol is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected QT prolongation (i.e., QTc interval greater than 440 msec. for males or 450 msec. for females), including those patients with congenital long QT syndrome.

Cases of QT prolongation and/or torsade de pointes have been reported in patients receiving droperidol at doses at or below recommended doses. Extreme caution is recommended when using this agent in patients with risk factors for development of prolonged QT syndrome, such as clinically significant bradycardia, any clinically significant cardiac disease, treatment with Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics, treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), concomitant treatment with other drug products known to prolong the QT interval, and electrolyte imbalance, in particular hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, or concomitant treatment with drugs that may cause electrolyte imbalance. It is advisable that all patients undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec. for males or 450 msec. for females) is present. If there is a prolonged QT interval, droperidol should not be administered.

New onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and some cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been reported during postmarketing surveillance in HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors. Some patients required either initiation or dosage adjustments of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment of these events. In some cases, hyperglycemia persisted despite discontinuation of protease inhibitor therapy. A causal relationship has not been established between protease inhibitor therapy and these events. Monitoring patients for hyperglycemia, new onset diabetes mellitus, or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus should be considered during protease inhibitor therapy.

There have been reports of increased bleeding, including spontaneous skin hematomas and hemarthrosis, in patients with hemophilia type A and B treated with protease inhibitors; however, a causal relationship has not been established. In some patients, additional factor VIII was given. In more than half of the reported cases, protease inhibitor therapy was continued or reintroduced. Patients with hemophilia or other coagulation defects should be monitored closely for bleeding during protease inhibitor therapy.

New onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and some cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been reported during postmarketing surveillance in HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors. Some patients required either initiation or dosage adjustments of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment of these events. In some cases, hyperglycemia persisted despite discontinuation of protease inhibitor therapy. A causal relationship has not been established between protease inhibitor therapy and these events. Monitoring patients for hyperglycemia, new onset diabetes mellitus, or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus should be considered during protease inhibitor therapy.

Ritonavir may prolong the PR interval in some patients. Postmarketing cases of second or third degree atrioventricular block have been reported. Ritonavir should be administered with caution in patients with underlying structural heart disease, preexisting conduction abnormalities, ischemic heart disease, and cardiomyopathies as these patients might be at increased risk for developing cardiac conduction abnormalities.

Treatment with ritonavir alone or in combination with other protease inhibitors (e.g., lopinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, fosamprenavir) has resulted in substantial increases in the concentration of total cholesterol and triglycerides. These effects have also been reported with other protease inhibitors but may be the most dramatic with ritonavir. The clinical significance of these elevations is unclear. Marked elevation in triglyceride levels is a risk factor for development of pancreatitis. Triglyceride and cholesterol testing is recommended before starting ritonavir (with or without other protease inhibitors) and periodically during therapy. Lipid disorders should be managed as clinically appropriate.

Droperidol should be administered with caution in patients with liver and kidney dysfunction because of the importance of these organs in the metabolism and excretion of drugs.

Hepatotoxicity (including jaundice, clinical hepatitis, and hepatic transaminase elevations exceeding 5 times the upper limit of normal) has been reported in patients receiving ritonavir alone or in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Ritonavir should be administered with caution in patients with preexisting liver diseases, liver enzyme abnormalities, or hepatitis; increased monitoring of AST/ALT should be considered in these patients, especially during the first 3 months of ritonavir therapy. Ritonavir is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver dysfunction.

Droperidol should be used with caution in patients with diagnosed or suspected pheochromocytoma as severe hypertension and tachycardia have been observed after its administration.

Droperidol should be administered with caution in patients with liver and kidney dysfunction because of the importance of these organs in the metabolism and excretion of drugs.