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Drug Interactions between Heartburn Relief Maximum Strength and Mepergan

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

meperidine promethazine

Applies to: Mepergan (meperidine / promethazine) and Mepergan (meperidine / promethazine)

ADJUST DOSE: The central nervous system and respiratory depressant effects of meperidine may be potentiated by concomitant use of other agents with CNS depressant effects. An increased risk of serious adverse reactions such as respiratory depression, hypotension, profound sedation, syncope, coma, and even death should be considered, particularly in elderly or debilitated patients.

MANAGEMENT: Caution and dosage adjustments are advisable when meperidine is used in combination with other narcotic analgesics, general anesthetics, phenothiazines, sedative-hypnotics, tranquilizers, tricyclic antidepressants, or other CNS depressants such as alcohol. A lower dosage of meperidine should be considered initially, then titrated carefully according to pain level and clinical response. Meperidine dosage reductions of 25% to 50% have been recommended for patients receiving phenothiazines and other tranquilizers. Patients should be advised to avoid rising abruptly from a sitting or recumbent position, and to notify their physician if they experience dizziness, lightheadedness, orthostasis, syncope, tachycardia, or excessive CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities. Patients should also avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until they know how these medications affect them.

References

  1. Lambertsen CJ, Wendel H, Longenhagen JB "The separate and combined respiratory effects of chlorpromazine and meperidine in normal men controlled at 46 mm Hg alveolar pCO2." J Pharmacol Exp Ther 131 (1961): 381-93
  2. Hoffman JC, Smith TC "The respiratory effects of meperidine and propiomazine in man." Anesthesiology 32 (1970): 325-31
  3. Stambaugh JE, Wainer IW "Drug interaction: meperidine and chlorpromazine, a toxic combination." J Clin Pharmacol 21 (1981): 140-6
  4. "Product Information. Demerol (meperidine)." Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals PROD (2002):
  5. "Product Information. Meperidine Hydrochloride (meperidine)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (2022):
View all 5 references

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Moderate

famotidine promethazine

Applies to: Heartburn Relief Maximum Strength (famotidine) and Mepergan (meperidine / promethazine)

MONITOR: Famotidine may cause QTc prolongation. Theoretically, coadministration with other agents that can prolong the QT interval may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes and sudden death. According to the manufacturer, prolongation of the QT interval has been reported very rarely in patients with impaired renal function whose dose/dosing interval of famotidine may not have been adjusted appropriately. In general, 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 drug(s).

MANAGEMENT: Caution and clinical monitoring are recommended if famotidine is used in combination with other drugs that can prolong the QT interval. 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.

References

  1. "Product Information. Pepcid (famotidine)." Merck & Co., Inc PROD (2002):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

meperidine food

Applies to: Mepergan (meperidine / promethazine)

GENERALLY AVOID: Ethanol may potentiate the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects of opioid analgesics. Concomitant use may result in additive CNS depression and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In more severe cases, hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, or even death may occur.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of opioid analgesics with ethanol should be avoided.

References

  1. Linnoila M, Hakkinen S "Effects of diazepam and codeine, alone and in combination with alcohol, on simulated driving." Clin Pharmacol Ther 15 (1974): 368-73
  2. Sturner WQ, Garriott JC "Deaths involving propoxyphene: a study of 41 cases over a two-year period." JAMA 223 (1973): 1125-30
  3. Girre C, Hirschhorn M, Bertaux L, et al. "Enhancement of propoxyphene bioavailability by ethanol: relation to psychomotor and cognitive function in healthy volunteers." Eur J Clin Pharmacol 41 (1991): 147-52
  4. Levine B, Saady J, Fierro M, Valentour J "A hydromorphone and ethanol fatality." J Forensic Sci 29 (1984): 655-9
  5. Sellers EM, Hamilton CA, Kaplan HL, Degani NC, Foltz RL "Pharmacokinetic interaction of propoxyphene with ethanol." Br J Clin Pharmacol 19 (1985): 398-401
  6. Carson DJ "Fatal dextropropoxyphene poisoning in Northern Ireland. Review of 30 cases." Lancet 1 (1977): 894-7
  7. Rosser WW "The interaction of propoxyphene with other drugs." Can Med Assoc J 122 (1980): 149-50
  8. Edwards C, Gard PR, Handley SL, Hunter M, Whittington RM "Distalgesic and ethanol-impaired function." Lancet 2 (1982): 384
  9. Kiplinger GF, Sokol G, Rodda BE "Effect of combined alcohol and propoxyphene on human performance." Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther 212 (1974): 175-80
View all 9 references

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Moderate

promethazine food

Applies to: Mepergan (meperidine / promethazine)

GENERALLY AVOID: Concurrent use of ethanol and phenothiazines may result in additive CNS depression and psychomotor impairment. Also, ethanol may precipitate dystonic reactions in patients who are taking phenothiazines. The two drugs probably act on different sites in the brain, although the exact mechanism of the interaction is not known.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during phenothiazine therapy.

References

  1. Lutz EG "Neuroleptic-induced akathisia and dystonia triggered by alcohol." JAMA 236 (1976): 2422-3
  2. Freed E "Alcohol-triggered-neuroleptic-induced tremor, rigidity and dystonia." Med J Aust 2 (1981): 44-5

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Minor

famotidine food

Applies to: Heartburn Relief Maximum Strength (famotidine)

H2 antagonists may reduce the clearance of nicotine. Cimetidine, 600 mg given twice a day for two days, reduced clearance of an intravenous nicotine dose by 30%. Ranitidine, 300 mg given twice a day for two days, reduced clearance by 10%. The clinical significance of this interaction is not known. Patients should be monitored for increased nicotine effects when using the patches or gum for smoking cessation and dosage adjustments should be made as appropriate.

References

  1. Bendayan R, Sullivan JT, Shaw C, Frecker RC, Sellers EM "Effect of cimetidine and ranitidine on the hepatic and renal elimination of nicotine in humans." Eur J Clin Pharmacol 38 (1990): 165-9

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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.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.