Drug Interactions between levamlodipine and ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir

Ritonavir should be taken with food to lessen gastrointestinal side effects. It is important that you take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your treatment or stop treatment without first talking to your doctor.

Food significantly increases the absorption of paritaprevir. You should take each dose of paritaprevir with a meal. Taking it on an empty stomach may lead to inadequate blood levels and reduced effectiveness of the medication.

In general, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) should not be used in patients with hypotension (systolic pressure < 90 mm Hg) or cardiogenic shock. Due to potential negative inotropic and peripheral vasodilating effects, the use of CCBs may further depress cardiac output and blood pressure, which can be detrimental in these patients. The use of verapamil and diltiazem is specifically contraindicated under these circumstances.

In general, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) should not be used in patients with hypotension (systolic pressure < 90 mm Hg) or cardiogenic shock. Due to potential negative inotropic and peripheral vasodilating effects, the use of CCBs may further depress cardiac output and blood pressure, which can be detrimental in these patients. The use of verapamil and diltiazem is specifically contraindicated under these circumstances.

In general, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) should not be used in patients with hypotension (systolic pressure < 90 mm Hg) or cardiogenic shock. Due to potential negative inotropic and peripheral vasodilating effects, the use of CCBs may further depress cardiac output and blood pressure, which can be detrimental in these patients. The use of verapamil and diltiazem is specifically contraindicated under these circumstances.

HBV reactivation has been reported during or after completion of HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy in HCV/HBV-coinfected patients who were not receiving HBV antiviral therapy; some cases resulted in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death. Cases have been reported in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients and patients with serologic evidence of resolved HBV infection (i.e., HBsAg negative and hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc] positive). HBV reactivation has also been reported in patients using certain immunosuppressant or chemotherapeutic agents; risk of HBV reactivation associated with HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy may be increased in these patients. All patients should be tested for evidence of current or prior HBV infection by measuring HBsAg and anti-HBc before starting HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy. Patients with serologic evidence of current or prior HBV infection should be monitored for clinical and laboratory signs of hepatitis flare or HBV reactivation during HCV therapy and posttherapy follow-up; appropriate patient management for HBV infection should be started as clinically indicated.

HBV reactivation has been reported during or after completion of HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy in HCV/HBV-coinfected patients who were not receiving HBV antiviral therapy; some cases resulted in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death. Cases have been reported in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients and patients with serologic evidence of resolved HBV infection (i.e., HBsAg negative and hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc] positive). HBV reactivation has also been reported in patients using certain immunosuppressant or chemotherapeutic agents; risk of HBV reactivation associated with HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy may be increased in these patients. All patients should be tested for evidence of current or prior HBV infection by measuring HBsAg and anti-HBc before starting HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy. Patients with serologic evidence of current or prior HBV infection should be monitored for clinical and laboratory signs of hepatitis flare or HBV reactivation during HCV therapy and posttherapy follow-up; appropriate patient management for HBV infection should be started as clinically indicated.

Increased frequency, duration, and/or severity of angina, as well as acute myocardial infarction, have rarely developed during initiation or dosage increase of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), particularly in patients with severe obstructive coronary artery disease and those treated with immediate-release formulations. The mechanism of this effect is not established. Therapy with CCBs should be administered cautiously in patients with significant coronary artery disease.

The use of drugs containing paritaprevir in combination with ombitasvir and ritonavir is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C). No dosage adjustment is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh A).

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are extensively metabolized by the liver. The half-lives of CCBs may be prolonged substantially in patients with severe hepatic impairment, with the potential for significant drug accumulation. In addition, the use of some CCBs has been associated with elevations in serum transaminases, both with and without concomitant elevations in alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. While these effects may be transient and reversible, some patients have developed cholestasis or hepatocellular injury. Therapy with CCBs should be administered cautiously and often at reduced dosages in patients with significantly impaired hepatic function. Periodic monitoring of liver function is advised.

New onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and some cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been reported during postmarketing surveillance in HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors. Some patients required either initiation or dosage adjustments of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment of these events. In some cases, hyperglycemia persisted despite discontinuation of protease inhibitor therapy. A causal relationship has not been established between protease inhibitor therapy and these events. Monitoring patients for hyperglycemia, new onset diabetes mellitus, or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus should be considered during protease inhibitor therapy.

There have been reports of increased bleeding, including spontaneous skin hematomas and hemarthrosis, in patients with hemophilia type A and B treated with protease inhibitors; however, a causal relationship has not been established. In some patients, additional factor VIII was given. In more than half of the reported cases, protease inhibitor therapy was continued or reintroduced. Patients with hemophilia or other coagulation defects should be monitored closely for bleeding during protease inhibitor therapy.

New onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and some cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been reported during postmarketing surveillance in HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors. Some patients required either initiation or dosage adjustments of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment of these events. In some cases, hyperglycemia persisted despite discontinuation of protease inhibitor therapy. A causal relationship has not been established between protease inhibitor therapy and these events. Monitoring patients for hyperglycemia, new onset diabetes mellitus, or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus should be considered during protease inhibitor therapy.

Ritonavir may prolong the PR interval in some patients. Postmarketing cases of second or third degree atrioventricular block have been reported. Ritonavir should be administered with caution in patients with underlying structural heart disease, preexisting conduction abnormalities, ischemic heart disease, and cardiomyopathies as these patients might be at increased risk for developing cardiac conduction abnormalities.

Treatment with ritonavir alone or in combination with other protease inhibitors (e.g., lopinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, fosamprenavir) has resulted in substantial increases in the concentration of total cholesterol and triglycerides. These effects have also been reported with other protease inhibitors but may be the most dramatic with ritonavir. The clinical significance of these elevations is unclear. Marked elevation in triglyceride levels is a risk factor for development of pancreatitis. Triglyceride and cholesterol testing is recommended before starting ritonavir (with or without other protease inhibitors) and periodically during therapy. Lipid disorders should be managed as clinically appropriate.

Hepatotoxicity (including jaundice, clinical hepatitis, and hepatic transaminase elevations exceeding 5 times the upper limit of normal) has been reported in patients receiving ritonavir alone or in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Ritonavir should be administered with caution in patients with preexisting liver diseases, liver enzyme abnormalities, or hepatitis; increased monitoring of AST/ALT should be considered in these patients, especially during the first 3 months of ritonavir therapy. Ritonavir is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver dysfunction.