Drug Interactions between Nuedexta and palbociclib

GENERALLY AVOID: In a small, randomized, crossover study, the administration of quinidine with grapefruit juice (compared to water) to healthy volunteers significantly prolonged the time to reach peak plasma quinidine concentrations and decreased the plasma concentrations of its major metabolite, 3-hydroxyquinidine. These changes were associated pharmacodynamically with both a delay and a reduction in the maximal effect on QTc interval. The proposed mechanism is delay of gastric emptying as well as inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall induced by certain compounds present in grapefruits.

MANAGEMENT: Given the drug's narrow therapeutic index, patients receiving quinidine therapy should avoid the consumption of grapefruits and grapefruit juice to prevent any undue fluctuations in plasma drug levels.

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit and/or grapefruit juice may increase the systemic exposure to palbociclib. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit. Increased exposure to palbociclib may increase the risk of adverse effects such as infections, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, alopecia, asthenia, peripheral neuropathy, and epistaxis.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food may enhance the oral bioavailability of palbociclib capsules and reduce the intersubject variability of palbociclib exposure. According to the product labeling, absorption and exposure of palbociclib from its oral capsule formulation were very low in approximately 13% of the population when taken in the fasted state. Food intake increased the palbociclib exposure in this small subset of the population but did not alter exposure in the rest of the population to a clinically relevant extent. Compared to palbociclib capsules given under overnight fasted conditions, the population average palbociclib peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by 38% and 21%, respectively, when given with high-fat, high-calorie food (approximately 800 to 1000 calories; 150, 250, and 500 to 600 calories from protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively); by 27% and 12%, respectively, when given with low-fat, low-calorie food (approximately 400 to 500 calories; 120, 250, and 28 to 35 calories from protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively); and by 24% and 13%, respectively, when given with moderate-fat, standard calorie food (approximately 500 to 700 calories; 75 to 105, 250 to 350 and 175 to 245 calories from protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively) one hour before and two hours after palbociclib capsule dosing.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should avoid consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice while on treatment with palbociclib. To avoid variability in drug absorption between doses, palbociclib capsules should be taken with food. Palbociclib tablet formulations may be taken with or without food.