Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants may have additive CNS-depressant effects with aldesleukin. Aldesleukin has been associated with CNS effects including depression, confusion, and drowsiness, which may progress to coma.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if aldesleukin is used with sedatives, hypnotics, tranquilizers, or other CNS-active medications. Patients should be monitored for CNS depression and other CNS adverse effects. Treatment with aldesleukin should be discontinued if severe lethargy or somnolence develop.

GENERALLY AVOID: Use of anticholinergic agents with alcohol may result in sufficient impairment of attention so as to render driving and operating machinery more hazardous. In addition, the potential for abuse may be increased with the combination. The mechanism of interaction is not established but may involve additive depressant effects on the central nervous system. No effect of oral propantheline or atropine on blood alcohol levels was observed in healthy volunteers when administered before ingestion of a standard ethanol load. However, one study found impairment of attention in subjects given atropine 0.5 mg or glycopyrrolate 1 mg in combination with alcohol.

MANAGEMENT: Alcohol should generally be avoided during therapy with anticholinergic agents. Patients should be counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them.