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Drug Interactions between Flagyl 375 and Kaopectate 1-D

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

metroNIDAZOLE loperamide

Applies to: Flagyl 375 (metronidazole) and Kaopectate 1-D (loperamide)

MONITOR: The use of higher than recommended dosages of loperamide (e.g., through abuse or misuse) has been associated with serious and potentially fatal cardiac adverse events, including syncope, cardiac arrest, and arrhythmia related to prolongation of the QT interval. Under such circumstances, coadministration with other agents that can prolong the QT interval may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes and sudden death. According to the FDA, the agency received reports of 48 cases of serious heart problems associated with use of loperamide from when it was first approved in 1976 through 2015. Thirty-one of these cases resulted in hospitalizations, and 10 patients died. The serious heart problems occurred mostly in patients who were using loperamide dosages that were much higher than recommended in an attempt to achieve euphoria, prevent opioid withdrawal, or treat diarrhea. In the most severe cases, individuals self-treated with dosages ranging from 70 to 1600 mg/day, or 4 to 100 times the recommended dosage. In other cases, patients were taking the recommended dosage, but with concomitant interacting drugs that caused an increase in loperamide levels. There have been additional cases of serious heart problems associated with loperamide use reported in the medical literature. In general, the risk of an individual agent or a combination of agents causing ventricular arrhythmia in association with QT prolongation is largely unpredictable but may be increased by certain underlying risk factors such as congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac disease, and electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia). In addition, the extent of drug-induced QT prolongation is dependent on the particular drug(s) involved and dosage(s) of the drug(s).

MANAGEMENT: Caution is recommended if loperamide is used in combination with other drugs that can prolong the QT interval. Patients should be counseled to not exceed the recommended dosage and frequency or duration of use of loperamide, and to seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms that could indicate the occurrence of torsade de pointes such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, palpitation, irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, or syncope. If loperamide-induced cardiotoxicity is suspected, promptly discontinue loperamide and initiate therapy to manage and prevent cardiac arrhythmias and adverse outcomes. Electrical pacing or cardioversion may be necessary if torsade de pointes persists despite pharmacotherapy. In many of the reported cases of loperamide-induced cardiotoxicity, standard antiarrhythmic drugs were ineffective, and electrical pacing or cardioversion was necessary.

References

  1. Eggleston W, Clark KH, Marraffa JM "Loperamide abuse associated with cardiac dysrhythmia and death." Ann Emerg Med 69 (2017): 83-6
  2. US Food and Drug Administration "FDA warns about serious heart problems with high doses of the antidiarrheal medicine loperamide (Imodium), including from abuse and misuse. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM505108.pdf" (2016):

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Drug and food interactions

Major

metroNIDAZOLE food

Applies to: Flagyl 375 (metronidazole)

CONTRAINDICATED: Use of alcohol or products containing alcohol during nitroimidazole therapy may result in a disulfiram-like reaction in some patients. There have been a few case reports involving metronidazole, although data overall are not convincing. The presumed mechanism is inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) by metronidazole in a manner similar to disulfiram. Following ingestion of alcohol, inhibition of ALDH results in increased concentrations of acetaldehyde, the accumulation of which can produce an unpleasant physiologic response referred to as the 'disulfiram reaction'. Symptoms include flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, respiratory difficulty, nausea, vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, and confusion. Severe reactions may result in respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and death. However, some investigators have questioned the disulfiram-like properties of metronidazole. One study found neither elevations in blood acetaldehyde nor objective or subjective signs of a disulfiram-like reaction to ethanol in six subjects treated with metronidazole (200 mg three times a day for 5 days) compared to six subjects who received placebo.

MANAGEMENT: Because clear evidence is lacking concerning the safety of ethanol use during nitroimidazole therapy, patients should be apprised of the potential for interaction. Consumption of alcoholic beverages and products containing propylene glycol is specifically contraindicated during and for at least 3 days after completion of metronidazole and benznidazole therapy according to their product labeling.

References

  1. Giannini AJ, DeFrance DT "Metronidazole and alcohol: potential for combinative abuse." J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 20 (1983): 509-15
  2. Alexander I "Alcohol-antabuse syndrome in patients receiving metronidazole during gynaecological treatment." Br J Clin Pract 39 (1985): 292-3
  3. Harries DP, Teale KF, Sunderland G "Metronidazole and alcohol: potential problems." Scott Med J 35 (1990): 179-80
  4. "Product Information. Flagyl (metronidazole)." Searle PROD (2001):
  5. Edwards DL, Fink PC, Van Dyke PO "Disulfiram-like reaction associated with intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and metronidazole." Clin Pharm 5 (1986): 999-1000
  6. Williams CS, Woodcock KR "Do ethanol and metronidazole interact to produce a disulfiram-like reaction?." Ann Pharmacother 34 (2000): 255-7
  7. Visapaa JP, Tillonen JS, Kaihovaara PS, Salaspuro MP "Lack of disulfiram-like reaction with metronidazole and ethanol." Ann Pharmacother 36 (2002): 971-4
  8. Krulewitch CJ "An unexpected adverse drug effect." J Midwifery Womens Health 48 (2003): 67-8
  9. "Product Information. Benznidazole (benznidazole)." Everett Laboratories Inc (2017):
View all 9 references

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Moderate

loperamide food

Applies to: Kaopectate 1-D (loperamide)

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 "Evaluation of possible interactions between ethanol and trazodone or amitriptyline." Neuropsychobiology 15 (1986): 31-7
  2. Gilman AG, eds., Nies AS, Rall TW, Taylor P "Goodman and Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics." New York, NY: Pergamon Press Inc. (1990):
  3. "Product Information. Fycompa (perampanel)." Eisai Inc (2012):
  4. "Product Information. Rexulti (brexpiprazole)." Otsuka American Pharmaceuticals Inc (2015):
View all 4 references

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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.

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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.

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