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Drug Interactions between st. john's wort and sunitinib

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

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Interactions between your drugs

Major

St. John's wort SUNItinib

Applies to: st. john's wort and sunitinib

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with potent inducers of CYP450 3A4 may decrease the plasma concentrations of sunitinib and its pharmacologically active metabolite, both of which are substrates of the isoenzyme. In healthy volunteers, administration of a single dose of sunitinib with the potent CYP450 3A4 inducer, rifampin, decreased the combined (i.e., sunitinib plus its primary active metabolite) peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) values by 23% and 46%, respectively, compared to administration of sunitinib alone.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of sunitinib with potent CYP450 3A4 inducers should generally be avoided. Alternative therapeutic agents with minimal or no enzyme induction potential should be considered whenever possible. If coadministration with a potent CYP450 3A4 inducer is required, a dose increase for sunitinib in 12.5 mg increments up to a maximum of 87.5 mg daily for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or 62.5 mg daily for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) may be considered based on careful monitoring of clinical response and tolerability. (Note: This recommendation is based on pharmacokinetic data from healthy volunteers as described above. The safety and efficacy of sunitinib with concomitant CYP450 3A4 inducers have not been established. In two cytokine-refractory metastatic RCC studies, 33 of the 169 patients received sunitinib with a potent CYP450 3A4 inducer with no modification of the starting dose of sunitinib.)

References

  1. (2006) "Product Information. Sutent (sunitinib)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

St. John's wort food

Applies to: st. john's wort

GENERALLY AVOID: An isolated case report suggests that foods containing large amounts of tyramine may precipitate a hypertensive crisis in patients treated with St. John's wort. The mechanism of interaction is unknown, as St. John's wort is not thought to possess monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibiting activity at concentrations achieved in vivo. The case patient was a 41-year-old man who had been taking St. John's wort for seven days prior to presentation at the emergency room with confusion and disorientation. The patient recalled last eating aged cheese and having a glass of red wine approximately 10 hours prior to admission. No other cause of delirium or hypertension could be identified. In addition, alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of St. John's wort. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Until further information is available, patients treated with St. John's wort should consider avoiding consumption of protein foods in which aging or breakdown of protein is used to increase flavor. These foods include cheese (particularly strong, aged or processed cheeses), sour cream, wine (particularly red wine), champagne, beer, pickled herring, anchovies, caviar, shrimp paste, liver (particularly chicken liver), dry sausage, figs, raisins, bananas, avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, bean curd, yogurt, papaya products, meat tenderizers, fava beans, protein extracts, and dietary supplements. Caffeine may also precipitate hypertensive crisis so its intake should be minimized as well. Patients should also be advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol.

References

  1. Patel S, Robinson R, Burk M (2002) "Hypertensive crisis associated with St. John's Wort." Am J Med, 112, p. 507-8

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Moderate

SUNItinib food

Applies to: sunitinib

GENERALLY AVOID: Consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice during sunitinib therapy may increase the plasma concentrations of sunitinib. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism by certain compounds present in grapefruit.

MANAGEMENT: Although clinical data are lacking, it may be advisable to avoid the consumption of large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice during sunitinib therapy.

References

  1. (2006) "Product Information. Sutent (sunitinib)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group

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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.

See also

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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.

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