Drug Interactions between Etrafon Forte and fosamprenavir

MONITOR: Coadministration of a phenothiazine with a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) may result in elevated plasma concentrations of one or both drugs as well as additive adverse effects. Most phenothiazines and TCAs have been found to undergo metabolism by CYP450 2D6, thus competitive inhibition of the enzyme may occur when more than one of these agents are administered. Although these drugs have been used together clinically, the possibility of increased risk of serious adverse effects such as central nervous system depression, tardive dyskinesia, hypotension, and prolongation of the QT interval should be considered, as many of these agents alone can and have produced these effects. In addition, excessive anticholinergic effects may occur in combination use, which can result in paralytic ileus, hyperthermia, heat stroke, and the anticholinergic intoxication syndrome. Peripheral symptoms of anticholinergic intoxication commonly include mydriasis, blurred vision, flushed face, fever, dry skin and mucous membranes, tachycardia, urinary retention, and constipation. Central symptoms may include memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, hallucinations, psychosis, delirium, hyperactivity, twitching or jerking movements, stereotypy, and seizures.

MANAGEMENT: Concurrent use of phenothiazines and TCAs should be approached with caution, particularly in the elderly and those with underlying organic brain disease, who tend to be more sensitive to the central anticholinergic effects of these drugs and in whom toxicity symptoms may be easily overlooked. Patients should be advised to notify their physician promptly if they experience potential symptoms of anticholinergic intoxication (e.g., abdominal pain, fever, heat intolerance, blurred vision, confusion, hallucinations) or cardiovascular toxicity (e.g., dizziness, palpitations, arrhythmias, syncope). Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them. A dosage reduction in one or both drugs may be necessary if excessive adverse effects develop.

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MONITOR: Product labeling for certain protease inhibitors (PIs) such as amprenavir and atazanavir states that serious and/or life-threatening drug interactions may occur with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), presumably due to PI inhibition of TCA metabolism via CYP450 3A4. High plasma levels of TCAs could conceivably lead to serious adverse reactions including QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and torsade de pointes. However, the clinical significance of such an interaction is unknown, as it has not been studied and there are no case reports of it published in the medical literature. Moreover, many TCAs are thought to be substrates of multiple CYP450 isoenzymes, thus the effects of CYP450 3A4 inhibition alone are unknown. Some TCAs such as desipramine, doxepin, and nortriptyline are also thought to be primarily metabolized by CYP450 2D6, which is not known to be inhibited by most PIs (except ritonavir) to any significant extent.

MANAGEMENT: Until further information is available, caution is advised if protease inhibitors must be used with certain TCAs. Pharmacologic response and plasma TCA levels should be monitored more closely whenever a PI is added to or withdrawn from therapy, and the TCA dosage adjusted as necessary.

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