Drug Interactions between suvorexant and Ubrelvy

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of suvorexant. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In addition, alcohol may increase the risk of cognitive and complex behavioral changes associated with the use of hypnotics including suvorexant, such as amnesia, anxiety, hallucinations, sleep-driving, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms.

ADJUST DOSE: Grapefruit juice may significantly increase the plasma concentrations of suvorexant. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration with or soon after a meal may delay the gastrointestinal absorption of suvorexant. According to the product labeling, administration of suvorexant with a high-fat meal resulted in no meaningful change in peak plasma concentration (Cmax) or systemic exposure (AUC), but a delay in Tmax of approximately 1.5 hours.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of suvorexant with alcohol should be avoided. Patients should be advised not to use suvorexant if they had alcohol that evening or before bed. Grapefruit juice should preferably be avoided; otherwise, the recommended dose of suvorexant is 5 mg when used with grapefruit juice and should not exceed 10 mg. Suvorexant may be taken with or without food; however, for faster sleep onset, suvorexant should not be administered with or soon after a meal.

ADJUST DOSE: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of ubrogepant. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit. Inhibition of hepatic CYP450 3A4 may also contribute. The interaction has not been studied with grapefruit but has been reported for other CYP450 3A4 inhibitors. When ubrogepant was administered with the potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole during in vivo studies, ubrogepant peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by 5.3- and 9.7-fold, respectively. When administered with the moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitor verapamil, ubrogepant Cmax and AUC increased by 2.8- and 3.5-fold, respectively. In general, the effect of grapefruit juice is concentration-, dose- and preparation-dependent, and can vary widely among brands. Certain preparations of grapefruit juice (e.g., high dose, double strength) have sometimes demonstrated potent inhibition of CYP450 3A4, while other preparations (e.g., low dose, single strength) have typically demonstrated moderate inhibition.

When administered with a high-fat meal, ubrogepant time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) was delayed by 2 hours, which resulted in a 22% decrease in Cmax and no change in AUC. Ubrogepant was administered without regard to food in clinical efficacy studies.

MANAGEMENT: Ubrogepant may be administered with or without food. When coadministered with grapefruit or grapefruit juice, the manufacturer recommends an initial ubrogepant dose of 50 mg. A second dose, if needed, should not be administered within 24 hours of the initial dose.