Drug Interaction Report

ADJUST DOSE: Coadministration with inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) may increase the plasma concentrations of afatinib, which is a substrate of the efflux transporter. In study subjects, oral administration of the P-gp inhibitor ritonavir (200 mg twice daily) one hour before afatinib dosing resulted in a 48% increase in afatinib systemic exposure. There was no change in afatinib exposure when ritonavir was administered simultaneously with, or 6 hours after, the afatinib dose.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if afatinib is used in combination with P-gp inhibitors. Patients should be monitored for potentially increased adverse effects such as diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration with or without renal impairment; cutaneous reactions including rash, erythema, and bullous, blistering, or exfoliating lesions; interstitial lung disease such as lung infiltration, pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and allergic alveolitis; hepatotoxicity, which may be life-threatening or fatal; keratitis characterized by acute or worsening eye inflammation, lacrimation, light sensitivity, blurred vision, eye pain, red eye, and/or ulceration; and left ventricular dysfunction. The manufacturer recommends reducing the daily dose of afatinib by 10 mg if not tolerated. The previous dose may be resumed after discontinuation of the P-gp inhibitor as tolerated.

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ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food may variably affect the bioavailability of different oral formulations and salt forms of erythromycin. The individual product package labeling should be consulted regarding the appropriate time of administration in relation to food ingestion. Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of orally administered erythromycin. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. In an open-label, crossover study consisting of six healthy subjects, the coadministration with double-strength grapefruit juice increased the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of a single dose of erythromycin (400 mg) by 52% and 49%, respectively, compared to water. The half-life was not affected. The clinical significance of this potential interaction is unknown.

MANAGEMENT: In general, optimal serum levels are achieved when erythromycin is taken in the fasting state, one-half to two hours before meals. However, some erythromycin products may be taken without regard to meals.

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ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food may reduce the oral bioavailability of afatinib. According to the product labeling, administration of afatinib with a high-fat meal decreased peak plasma concentration (Cmax) by 50% and systemic exposure (AUC) by 39% compared to administration in the fasted state.

MANAGEMENT: Afatinib should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

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Ethanol, when combined with erythromycin, may delay absorption and therefore the clinical effects of the antibiotic. The mechanism appears to be due to slowed gastric emptying by ethanol. Data is available only for erythromycin ethylsuccinate. Patients should be advised to avoid ethanol while taking erythromycin salts.

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