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Drug Interactions between st. john's wort and Vfend

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 voriconazole

Applies to: st. john's wort and Vfend (voriconazole)

CONTRAINDICATED: Coadministration with St. John's wort may significantly reduce the plasma concentrations of voriconazole. The mechanism involves accelerated clearance of voriconazole due to induction of hepatic/intestinal CYP450 3A4 isoenzyme and/or intestinal P-glycoprotein drug efflux pump by constituents of St. John's wort. In healthy volunteers, administration of a single 400 mg dose of voriconazole following pretreatment with St. John's wort (300 mg three times daily for 15 days) resulted in a 40% to 60% reduction of voriconazole systemic exposure (AUC). In contrast, single oral doses of St. John's wort had no appreciable effect on voriconazole AUC.

MANAGEMENT: The use of voriconazole with St. John's wort is considered contraindicated.

References (4)
  1. (2002) "Product Information. VFEND (voriconazole)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
  3. Canadian Pharmacists Association (2006) e-CPS. http://www.pharmacists.ca/function/Subscriptions/ecps.cfm?link=eCPS_quikLink
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."

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

voriconazole food

Applies to: Vfend (voriconazole)

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food reduces the oral absorption and bioavailability of voriconazole. According to the product labeling, administration of multiple doses of voriconazole with high-fat meals decreased the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) by 34% and 24%, respectively, when the drug is administered as a tablet, and by 58% and 37%, respectively, when administered as the oral suspension.

MANAGEMENT: To ensure maximal oral absorption, voriconazole tablets and oral suspension should be taken at least one hour before or after a meal.

References (2)
  1. (2002) "Product Information. VFEND (voriconazole)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals
  2. Wohlt PD, Zheng L, Gunderson S, Balzar SA, Johnson BD, Fish JT (2009) "Recommendations for the use of medications with continuous enteral nutrition." Am J Health Syst Pharm, 66, p. 1438-67

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.

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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

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