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Drug Interaction Report

1 drug interaction and 9 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Drug interactions

Major drug interactions

Major:

alemtuzumab PEMEtrexed

Applies to: alemtuzumab, pemetrexed

Using alemtuzumab together with PEMEtrexed may increase the risk of serious infections.

Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you, has taken appropriate precautions, and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications.

It has been recommended that you either do not ingest or properly heat foods that may be a source of listeria like:

  • deli meat
  • unpasteurized milk and cheese products
  • soft cheeses
  • undercooked meat, seafood or poultry

Contact your doctor immediately if you develop signs and symptoms of a serious side effect or infection such as fever, chills, diarrhea, sore throat, muscle aches, shortness of breath, blood in your phlegm, weight loss, red or inflamed skin, body sores, pain or burning during urination, weakness on one side of your body, and/or problems with thinking, eyesight, strength, balance, or use of your arms or legs.

It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Food/lifestyle interactions

No alcohol/food interactions were found with the drugs in your list. However, this does not necessarily mean no food interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Disease interactions

9 potential interactionsApplies to: 7 conditions, including Heart Disease, Liver Disease, Infection, Renal Dysfunction, and History, Radiation Therapy.

Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts

Major:

alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab has a major potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.

Severe, including fatal, autoimmune anemia and thrombocytopenia, and prolonged myelosuppression have been reported in patients receiving alemtuzumab. It is recommended to withhold therapy for severe cytopenias and to discontinue therapy for autoimmune cytopenias or recurrent/persistent severe cytopenias (except lymphopenia). It is recommended to monitor complete blood counts (CBC) at weekly intervals during therapy and more frequently if worsening anemia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia occurs and to assess CD4+ counts after treatment until recovery to >= 200 cells/µL.

Major:

pemetrexed

PEMEtrexed has a major potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.

Pemetrexed can cause severe myelosuppression resulting in the need for transfusion and which may lead to neutropenic infection. The risk of myelosuppression is increased in patients who do not receive vitamin supplementation (including oral folic acid and IM vitamin B12). Patients with myelosuppression should be monitored carefully. A CBC should be obtained at the beginning of each cycle and as needed. Treatment should not be initiated unless the absolute neutrophil count is at least 1500 cells/mm3 and platelet count is at least 100,000 cells/mm3.

Heart Disease

Moderate:

alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab has a moderate potential interaction with Heart Disease.

The use of alemtuzumab can cause severe infusion reactions, including pyrexia, chills/rigors, nausea, hypotension, urticaria, dyspnea, rash, emesis, and bronchospasm. Caution should be taken in patients with a history of pulmonary disease, heart disease as they may require dose-escalation and additional pre-infusion medications to manage complications as appropriate.

History, Radiation Therapy

Moderate:

pemetrexed

PEMEtrexed has a moderate potential interaction with History, Radiation Therapy.

Radiation recall can occur with pemetrexed in patients who have received radiation weeks to years previously. Patients should be monitored for inflammation/blistering in areas of previous radiation treatment; they should be advised to immediately contact their health care provider if inflammation/blisters develop in a previously irradiated area. Pemetrexed should be permanently discontinued for signs of radiation recall.

Infection

Moderate:

alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab has a moderate potential interaction with Infection.

Alemtuzumab should be used with caution in patients at risk of opportunistic infections, as therapy could result in severe and prolonged lymphopenia. It is recommended to administer prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) and herpes viral during and for a minimum of 2 months after completion of therapy or until the CD4+ count is >=200 cells/µL. Routinely monitor patients for CMV infection during therapy and withhold therapy for serious infections and during antiviral treatment for CMV infection or confirmed CMV viremia.

Liver Disease

Moderate:

pemetrexed

PEMEtrexed has a moderate potential interaction with Liver Disease.

No formal studies have been conducted to examine pemetrexed in patients with liver dysfunction. Caution is advised.

Pulmonary Impairment

Major:

pemetrexed

PEMEtrexed has a major potential interaction with Pulmonary Impairment.

Serious interstitial pneumonitis (including fatal case) can occur with pemetrexed. Care should be exercised when using pemetrexed in patients with preexisting pulmonary impairment. Pemetrexed should be withheld for acute onset of new/progressive unexplained pulmonary symptoms; if pneumonitis is confirmed, pemetrexed should be permanently discontinued.

Moderate:

alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab has a moderate potential interaction with Pulmonary Impairment.

The use of alemtuzumab can cause severe infusion reactions, including pyrexia, chills/rigors, nausea, hypotension, urticaria, dyspnea, rash, emesis, and bronchospasm. Caution should be taken in patients with a history of pulmonary disease, heart disease as they may require dose-escalation and additional pre-infusion medications to manage complications as appropriate.

Renal Dysfunction

Major:

pemetrexed

PEMEtrexed has a major potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.

Pemetrexed can cause severe (and sometimes fatal) renal toxicity. Pemetrexed is primarily eliminated by the kidneys; decreased renal function results in decreased clearance and increased pemetrexed exposure compared with normal renal function. No dose is recommended for patients with CrCl less than 45 mL/min. CrCl should be determined before each dose and renal function should be monitored periodically during therapy. Pemetrexed should be withheld in patients with renal toxicity until CrCl is 45 mL/min or greater.

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.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.