Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: This warning does not apply to the naloxone component in non-injectable formulations of naloxone-containing combination medicines. Naloxone injection is an antagonist that will reverse the actions of opiates. This reversal can occur when the opiate drug is being used clinically and when it is being abused. Physically dependent patients may experience withdrawal symptoms. Abrupt postoperative opioid reversal has resulted in hypotension, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, encephalopathy, and death.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving naloxone injection should be monitored for changes in vital signs, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, aches, fever, runny nose, sneezing, nervousness, irritability, shivering, abdominal cramps.

MONITOR: Smoking tobacco may decrease the plasma concentrations and effects of pentazocine by enhancing its metabolic clearance.

MANAGEMENT: The possibility of reduced therapeutic effects of pentazocine should be considered in smokers.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food may interfere with the absorption of esomeprazole. The manufacturer reports that the area under the concentration-time curve for esomeprazole following a single 40 mg dose was 33% to 53% lower when administered after food intake as opposed to during fasting conditions.

MANAGEMENT: Esomeprazole should be taken at least one hour before meals. When administered to patients receiving continuous enteral nutrition, some experts recommend that the tube feeding should be interrupted for at least 1 hour before and 1 hour after the dose of esomeprazole is given.

GENERALLY AVOID: Ethanol may potentiate the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects of opioid analgesics. Concomitant use may result in additive CNS depression and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In more severe cases, hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, or even death may occur.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of opioid analgesics with ethanol should be avoided.