Drug Interactions between pravastatin and SymlinPen 120

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Pramlintide slows gastric emptying and may delay the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In a pharmacokinetic study of 24 patients with type 2 diabetes, coadministration with pramlintide (120 mcg) decreased the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of acetaminophen (1000 mg) by 29% and increased its time to peak plasma concentration (Tmax) based on the time of acetaminophen administration relative to pramlintide injection. Pramlintide significantly increased acetaminophen Tmax (range 48 to 72 minutes) when acetaminophen was administered simultaneously with or up to 2 hours following pramlintide injection, but it had negligible effect when acetaminophen was administered 1 to 2 hours before pramlintide injection.

MANAGEMENT: When rapid onset of a concomitantly administered oral medication is critical to its effectiveness, the medication should be administered at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after pramlintide injection.

MONITOR: Concomitant use of statin medication with substantial quantities of alcohol may increase the risk of hepatic injury. Transient increases in serum transaminases have been reported with statin use and while these increases generally resolve or improve with continued therapy or a brief interruption in therapy, there have been rare postmarketing reports of fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure in patients taking statins. Patients who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of liver disease may be at increased risk for hepatic injury. Active liver disease or unexplained transaminase elevations are contraindications to statin use.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be counseled to avoid substantial quantities of alcohol in combination with statin medications and clinicians should be aware of the increased risk for hepatotoxicity in these patients.