Drug Interactions between fluoxetine / olanzapine and propofol

MONITOR: Treatment with propofol may lead to prolongation of the QT interval; however, the extent of prolongation and its clinical impact is difficult to determine. A retrospective single-center cohort study in patients treated at the Mayo clinic over 17 years (n=628,784) concluded that torsade de pointes (TdP) after propofol administration occurred at an annual incidence of 1.93 per million; however, it was often associated with other risk factors, including concomitant QT-prolonging medications, low serum potassium levels (<3.5 mmol/L), and low serum magnesium levels (<1.8 mg/dL). Other studies have reported that propofol has no effect or that it decreases the QTc interval and may offset QTc prolongation due to other coadministered anesthetic medications. Theoretically, concurrent use of two or more drugs that can cause QT interval prolongation may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including TdP and sudden death. The risk of an individual agent or a combination of these 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 drugs. Data from formal QT/QTc studies on propofol are lacking.

MANAGEMENT: Caution and clinical monitoring is recommended if propofol is used concomitantly with other agents associated with QT interval prolongation. Patients should be advised 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.

MONITOR: It is uncertain whether olanzapine causes clinically significant prolongation of the QT interval. In pooled studies of adults as well as pooled studies of adolescents, there were no significant differences between olanzapine and placebo in the proportion of patients experiencing potentially important changes in ECG parameters, including QT, QTcF (Fridericia-corrected), and PR intervals. In clinical trials, clinically meaningful QTc prolongations (QTcF >=500 msec at any time post-baseline in patients with baseline QTcF <500 msec) occurred in 0.1% to 1% of patients treated with olanzapine, with no significant differences in associated cardiac events compared to placebo. Published studies have generally reported no significant effect of olanzapine on QTc interval, although both QTc prolongation and QTc shortening have also been reported. There have been a few isolated case reports of QT prolongation in patients receiving olanzapine. However, causality is difficult to establish due to confounding factors such as concomitant use of drugs that cause QT prolongation and underlying conditions that may predispose to QT prolongation (e.g., hypokalemia, congenital long QT syndrome, preexisting conduction abnormalities).

MANAGEMENT: Some authorities recommend caution when olanzapine is used with drugs that are known to cause QT prolongation. ECG monitoring may be advisable in some cases, such as in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias or congenital or family history of long QT syndrome. Patients should be advised 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.

MONITOR: Treatment with propofol may lead to prolongation of the QT interval; however, the extent of prolongation and its clinical impact is difficult to determine. A retrospective single-center cohort study in patients treated at the Mayo clinic over 17 years (n=628,784) concluded that torsade de pointes (TdP) after propofol administration occurred at an annual incidence of 1.93 per million; however, it was often associated with other risk factors, including concomitant QT-prolonging medications, low serum potassium levels (<3.5 mmol/L), and low serum magnesium levels (<1.8 mg/dL). Other studies have reported that propofol has no effect or that it decreases the QTc interval and may offset QTc prolongation due to other coadministered anesthetic medications. Theoretically, concurrent use of two or more drugs that can cause QT interval prolongation may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including TdP and sudden death. The risk of an individual agent or a combination of these 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 drugs. Data from formal QT/QTc studies on propofol are lacking.

MANAGEMENT: Caution and clinical monitoring is recommended if propofol is used concomitantly with other agents associated with QT interval prolongation. Patients should be advised 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.