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Can you take Ethosuximide with Flibanserin?

1 drug interaction and 13 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Drug interactions

Moderate drug interactions

Moderate:

ethosuximide flibanserin

Applies to: ethosuximide and flibanserin

Using flibanserin together with ethosuximide may increase side effects such as:

  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • fatigue
  • difficulty concentrating

You should avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery for at least 6 hours after taking flibanserin and until you know how the medications affect you.

Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. 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.

Food/lifestyle interactions

Major food/lifestyle interactions

Major:

flibanserin Food/Lifestyle

Applies to: flibanserin

Do not use alcohol too close to the dosing time of flibanserin. Doing so can cause excessive drowsiness and decreases in blood pressure, which may lead to:

  • dizziness
  • lightheadedness
  • fainting
  • accidental injury

What to do: Take flibanserin at bedtime to minimize the risk of these effects. It is recommended that you stop drinking alcohol at least two hours before taking flibanserin; otherwise, you should just skip the flibanserin dose that evening. Alcohol should not be consumed until at least the morning after taking flibanserin at bedtime.

Because grapefruit juice can significantly increase the blood levels of flibanserin, you should also avoid the consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. 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.

Moderate food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate:

ethosuximide Food/Lifestyle

Applies to: ethosuximide

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of ethosuximide such as:

  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • difficulty concentrating

Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment.

You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with ethosuximide.

Do not use more than the recommended dose of ethosuximide, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Disease interactions

11 potential interactions Applies to: 10 conditions, including Depression, Hypotension, Psychosis, Syncope, and Hemodialysis.

Alcoholism

Major:

flibanserin

Flibanserin has a major potential interaction with Alcoholism.

The use of flibanserin is contraindicated along with the ingestion of alcohol, as it increases the risk of hypotension and syncope. It is important to assess the likelihood of the patient abstaining from alcohol, taking into account the current and past drinking behavior.

Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts

Major:

ethosuximide

Ethosuximide has a major potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.

Hematologic toxicities, some with fatal outcome, have been associated with the use of succinimide anticonvulsants. Leukopenia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, and eosinophilia have been reported. Therapy with succinimide anticonvulsants should be administered cautiously in patients with preexisting blood dyscrasias and/or bone marrow suppression. Complete blood counts, including platelets, should be performed prior to initiating therapy and periodically during therapy. Marked depression of blood counts may be indication for withdrawal of succinimide therapy.

Depression

Moderate:

ethosuximide

Ethosuximide has a moderate potential interaction with Depression.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Pooled analyses of 199 placebo-controlled clinical studies involving the use of 11 different AEDs showed that patients receiving AEDs had approximately twice the risk of suicidal thinking or behavior compared to patients receiving placebo. AEDs should be administered cautiously in patients with depression or other psychiatric disorders; phentermine-topiramate should be avoided in patients with history of suicidal attempts or active suicidal ideation. The risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior should be carefully assessed against the risk of untreated illness, bearing in mind that epilepsy and many other conditions for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Patients, caregivers, and families should be alert to the emergence or worsening of signs and symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts or behavior. If patients have symptoms of suicidal ideation or behavior, a dosage reduction or treatment discontinuation should be considered.

Hemodialysis

Moderate:

ethosuximide

Ethosuximide has a moderate potential interaction with Hemodialysis.

Ethosuximide has been shown to be removed by hemodialysis. Doses should either be scheduled for administration after dialysis or supplemental doses be given after dialysis.

Hypotension

Major:

flibanserin

Flibanserin has a major potential interaction with Hypotension.

The use of flibanserin can cause hypotension and syncope. The benefits and risks of therapy should be considered in patients with preexisting conditions that predispose to hypotension. Flibanserin should be used with caution in these patients.

Liver Disease

Major:

ethosuximide

Ethosuximide has a major potential interaction with Liver Disease.

Succinimide anticonvulsants have produced morphological and functional changes in the liver of animals. In humans, abnormalities in liver and renal function studies have been reported. Therapy with succinimide anticonvulsants should be administered with extreme caution in patients with known hepatic or renal diseases. Periodic urinalysis and liver function tests are recommended for all patients treated with these drugs.

Major:

flibanserin

Flibanserin has a major potential interaction with Liver Disease.

Flibanserin may accumulate in patients with hepatic impairment. Therapy with flibanserin is contraindicated in patients with compromised hepatic function.

Lupus Erythematosus

Major:

ethosuximide

Ethosuximide has a major potential interaction with Lupus Erythematosus.

Cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been reported in association with the use of succinimide anticonvulsants, primarily ethosuximide. Some of the patients recovered promptly following discontinuation of the drug, while others continued to have active disease long after. Therapy with succinimide anticonvulsants should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of SLE.

Psychosis

Moderate:

ethosuximide

Ethosuximide has a moderate potential interaction with Psychosis.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Pooled analyses of 199 placebo-controlled clinical studies involving the use of 11 different AEDs showed that patients receiving AEDs had approximately twice the risk of suicidal thinking or behavior compared to patients receiving placebo. AEDs should be administered cautiously in patients with depression or other psychiatric disorders; phentermine-topiramate should be avoided in patients with history of suicidal attempts or active suicidal ideation. The risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior should be carefully assessed against the risk of untreated illness, bearing in mind that epilepsy and many other conditions for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Patients, caregivers, and families should be alert to the emergence or worsening of signs and symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts or behavior. If patients have symptoms of suicidal ideation or behavior, a dosage reduction or treatment discontinuation should be considered.

Renal Dysfunction

Major:

ethosuximide

Ethosuximide has a major potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.

Succinimide anticonvulsants have produced morphological and functional changes in the liver of animals. In humans, abnormalities in liver and renal function studies have been reported. Therapy with succinimide anticonvulsants should be administered with extreme caution in patients with known hepatic or renal diseases. Periodic urinalysis and liver function tests are recommended for all patients treated with these drugs.

Syncope

Major:

flibanserin

Flibanserin has a major potential interaction with Syncope.

The use of flibanserin can cause hypotension and syncope. The benefits and risks of therapy should be considered in patients with preexisting conditions that predispose to hypotension. Flibanserin should be used with caution in these patients.

More resources

ethosuximide

A total of 393 drugs are known to interact with ethosuximide.

flibanserin

A total of 517 drugs are known to interact with flibanserin.

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.