Drug Interactions between morphine and Vosevi

MONITOR CLOSELY: Coadministration with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors may increase the plasma concentrations of morphine and its risk of adverse effects, including hypotension, respiratory and CNS depression, profound sedation, coma, and death. The proposed mechanism may involve inhibition of the intestinal P-gp efflux transporter, resulting in enhanced oral bioavailability of morphine, a P-gp substrate. The interaction may be more significant for orally administered morphine. According to some authorities, the concomitant use of a P-gp inhibitor with oral morphine may increase the systemic exposure of morphine by approximately 2-fold. However, in a pharmacokinetic study involving 12 healthy subjects, itraconazole (200 mg daily for 4 days), a strong P-gp inhibitor, increased the morphine (0.3 mg/kg as a single oral dose) peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by 28% and 22%, respectively. Plasma concentrations of intravenously administered morphine appear less affected. In a crossover study involving 14 healthy volunteers, intravenous administration of P-gp inhibitor cyclosporine followed by an intravenous infusion of morphine 0.1 mg/kg led to a minimal increase of morphine AUC to 100 ng/mL*h compared to 85 ng/mL*h when administered after control (no infusion). In the same study, cyclosporine appeared to prolong morphine-induced miosis.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is recommended whenever morphine, particularly orally administered morphine, is used concomitantly with a P-gp inhibitor. Close clinical and laboratory monitoring should be considered whenever a P-gp inhibitor is added to or withdrawn from therapy, and the morphine dosage adjusted as necessary. Patients should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation that may be greater than otherwise expected. In addition, patients should be advised to avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until they know how these medications affect them.

MONITOR: Coadministration with inhibitors of organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) 1B1 and/or 1B3 may increase the plasma concentrations of voxilaprevir, which is a substrate of the hepatic uptake transporters. When a single 100 mg dose of voxilaprevir was administered with a single 600 mg dose of the potent OATP 1B1/1B3 inhibitor cyclosporine (n=24), mean voxilaprevir peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by approximately 19.0- and 9.4-fold, respectively. Inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)- and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)-mediated intestinal transport and CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism of voxilaprevir may also contribute to the overall interaction with cyclosporine. The safety of such high levels of voxilaprevir has not been established.

MANAGEMENT: Caution and monitoring are advised when voxilaprevir is used with OATP 1B1 or 1B3 inhibitors.