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Drug Interactions between Ginkgo Biloba and nalidixic acid

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

nalidixic acid ginkgo

Applies to: nalidixic acid and Ginkgo Biloba (ginkgo)

GENERALLY AVOID: Certain preparations of ginkgo biloba have been reported to induce seizures. There may be a theoretical risk of increased seizure potential when used with other agents that can lower the seizure threshold such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants or anorectics), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, neuroleptic agents, central nervous system stimulants, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, other tricyclic compounds (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, phenothiazines), carbapenems, cholinergic agents, fluoroquinolones, interferons, chloroquine, mefloquine, lindane, and theophylline. Ginkgo products may contain varying amounts of 4'-O-methylpyridoxine (ginkgotoxin), a known neurotoxin found primarily in ginkgo biloba seeds but also detected in lesser amounts in the leaves. In vivo, 4'-O-methylpyridoxine competes with vitamin B6, which causes an indirect inhibition of glutamate decarboxylase and subsequent decrease in the formation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. There have been published case reports of generalized convulsions and vomiting within several hours after ingestion of large amounts of ginkgo nuts/seeds, including in young children and healthy individuals with no known personal or family history of epilepsy. Many more cases, including fatalities, occurred in Japan in the 1930s to the 1960s during a food shortage when ginkgo nuts served as an important source of food. Some investigators have suggested that the amounts of ginkgotoxin in commercial extracts are too low to exert a detrimental effect. Nevertheless, a case report describes two elderly, previously well controlled epileptic patients who presented with recurrent seizures within two weeks of initiating treatment with a ginkgo extract. Both patients remained seizure-free several months after discontinuing the extract, with no alteration to their anticonvulsant medications.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should consult a healthcare provider before taking any herbal or alternative medicine. Because of inconsistencies in formulation and potency of commercial herbal preparations, there is no way to verify without laboratory testing if and in what quantity 4'-O-methylpyridoxine may be present in a given ginkgo preparation. Patients treated with agents that can lower the seizure threshold should preferably avoid the use of products containing ginkgo biloba.

References

  1. Miller LG (1998) "Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions." Arch Intern Med, 158, p. 2200-11
  2. Gregory PJ (2001) "Seizure associated with Ginkgo biloba?." Ann Intern Med, 134, p. 344
  3. Miwa H, Iijima M, Tanaka S, Mizuno Y (2001) "Generalized convulsions after consuming a large amount of Gingko nuts." Epilepsia, 42, p. 280-1
  4. Kajiyama Y, Fujii K, Takeuchi H, Manabe Y (2002) "Ginkgo seed poisoning." Pediatrics, 109, p. 325-7
  5. Kupiec T, Raj V (2005) "Fatal seizures due to potential herb-drug interactions with Ginkgo biloba." J Anal Toxicol, 29, p. 755-8
  6. Harms SL, Garrard J, Schwinghammer P, Eberly LE, Chang Y, Leppik IE (2006) "Ginkgo biloba use in nursing home elderly with epilepsy or seizure disorder." Epilepsia, 47, p. 323-9
  7. Granger AS (2001) "Ginkgo biloba precipitating epileptic seizures." Age Ageing, 30, p. 523-5
  8. Spinella M (2001) "Herbal medicines and epilepsy: the potential for benefit and adverse effects." Epilepsy Behav, 2, p. 524-32
View all 8 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

nalidixic acid food

Applies to: nalidixic acid

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Oral preparations that contain magnesium, aluminum, or calcium may significantly decrease the gastrointestinal absorption of nalidixic acid. Absorption may also be reduced by sucralfate, which contains aluminum, as well as other polyvalent cations such as iron and zinc. The mechanism is chelation of nalidixic acid by polyvalent cations, forming a complex that is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

MANAGEMENT: When coadministration cannot be avoided, nalidixic acid should be dosed at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after polyvalent cation-containing products to minimize the potential for interaction.

References

  1. "Product Information. Neggram (nalidixic acid)." Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals

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Moderate

nalidixic acid food

Applies to: nalidixic acid

MONITOR: Coadministration with certain quinolones may increase the plasma concentrations and pharmacologic effects of caffeine due to inhibition of the CYP450 1A2 metabolism of caffeine. Quinolones that may inhibit CYP450 1A2 include ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, grepafloxacin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, pipemidic acid, and pefloxacin (not all commercially available). In healthy volunteers, enoxacin (100 to 400 mg twice daily) increased systemic exposure (AUC) of caffeine by 2- to 5-fold and reduced its clearance by approximately 80%. Pipemidic acid (400 to 800 mg twice daily) increased AUC of caffeine by 2- to 3-fold and reduced its clearance by approximately 60%. Ciprofloxacin (250 to 750 mg twice daily) increased AUC and elimination half-life of caffeine by 50% to over 100%, and reduced its clearance by 30% to 50%. Norfloxacin 400 mg twice daily increased caffeine AUC by 16%, while 800 mg twice daily increased caffeine AUC by 52% and reduced its clearance by 35%. Pefloxacin (400 mg twice daily) has been shown to reduce caffeine clearance by 47%.

MANAGEMENT: Patients using caffeine-containing products should be advised that increased adverse effects such as headache, tremor, restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, tachycardia, and blood pressure increases may occur during coadministration with quinolones that inhibit CYP450 1A2. Caffeine intake should be limited when taking high dosages of these quinolones. If an interaction is suspected, other quinolones such as gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin, moxifloxacin, and ofloxacin may be considered, since they are generally believed to have little or no effect on CYP450 1A2 or have been shown not to interact with caffeine.

References

  1. Polk RE (1989) "Drug-drug interactions with ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones." Am J Med, 87, s76-81
  2. Healy DP, Polk RE, Kanawati L, Rock DT, Mooney ML (1989) "Interaction between oral ciprofloxacin and caffeine in normal volunteers." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 33, p. 474-8
  3. Harder S, Fuhr U, Staib AH, Wolf T (1989) "Ciprofloxacin-caffeine: a drug interaction established using in vivo and in vitro investigations." Am J Med, 87, p. 89-91
  4. Carbo ML, Segura J, De la Torre R, et al. (1989) "Effect of quinolones on caffeine disposition." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 45, p. 234-40
  5. (1993) "Product Information. Penetrax (enoxacin)." Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Collegeville, PA.
  6. Mahr G, Sorgel F, Granneman GR, et al. (1992) "Effects of temafloxacin and ciprofloxacin on the pharmacokinetics of caffeine." Clin Pharmacokinet, 22, p. 90-7
  7. (2002) "Product Information. Cipro (ciprofloxacin)." Bayer
  8. (2001) "Product Information. Noroxin (norfloxacin)." Merck & Co., Inc
  9. Staib AH, Stille W, Dietlein G, et al. (1987) "Interaction between quinolones and caffeine." Drugs, 34 Suppl 1, p. 170-4
  10. Stille W, Harder S, Micke S, et al. (1987) "Decrease of caffeine elimination in man during co-administration of 4-quinolones." J Antimicrob Chemother, 20, p. 729-34
  11. Harder S, Staib AH, Beer C, Papenburg A, Stille W, Shah PM (1988) "4-Quinolones inhibit biotransformation of caffeine." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 35, p. 651-6
  12. Nicolau DP, Nightingale CH, Tessier PR, et al. (1995) "The effect of fleroxacin and ciprofloxacin on the pharmacokinetics of multiple dose caffeine." Drugs, 49 Suppl 2, p. 357-9
  13. (2001) "Product Information. Raxar (grepafloxacin)." Glaxo Wellcome
  14. Carrillo JA, Benitez J (2000) "Clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between dietary caffeine and medications." Clin Pharmacokinet, 39, p. 127-53
  15. Fuhr U, Wolff T, Harder S, Schymanski P, Staib AH (1990) "Quinolone inhibition of cytochrome P-450 dependent caffeine metabolism in human liver microsomes." Drug Metab Dispos, 18, p. 1005-10
  16. Kinzig-Schippers M, Fuhr U, Zaigler M, et al. (1999) "Interaction of pefloxacin and enoxacin with the human cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1A2." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 65, p. 262-74
  17. Healy DP, Schoenle JR, Stotka J, Polk RE (1991) "Lack of interaction between lomefloxacin and caffeine in normal volunteers." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 35, p. 660-4
View all 17 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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