Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Coadministration with inhibitors of CYP450 3A4 and/or UGT1A1 may increase the plasma concentrations of irinotecan and its active metabolite, SN-38. CYP450 3A4 and UGT1A1 are the isoenzymes responsible for the metabolic conversion of irinotecan to its inactive metabolite, APC. Inhibition of APC formation results in more irinotecan metabolism to SN-38, an active and toxic metabolite. High plasma levels of irinotecan and SN-38 may increase the risk of potentially fatal toxicities such as severe diarrhea, neutropenia, sepsis, and thromboembolism. In cancer patients receiving irinotecan, coadministration of ketoconazole, a potent CYP450 3A4 and UGT1A1 inhibitor, resulted in a 100% increase in the relative exposure to SN-38 and an 87% reduction in the exposure to APC. In HIV patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, coadministration of irinotecan with lopinavir-ritonavir decreased the clearance of irinotecan by 47%, increased the AUC of SN-38 by 204%, and decreased the AUC of APC by 81%.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when irinotecan is prescribed with CYP450 3A4 or UGT1A1 inhibitors. Patients should be monitored for toxicities such as diarrhea, myelosuppression, thromboembolism, and interstitial lung disease, and the irinotecan dosage adjusted accordingly or treatment discontinued as necessary.

GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of dronedarone. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. According to the product labeling, administration with grapefruit juice resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in dronedarone peak plasma concentration and a 3-fold increase in systemic exposure. Because dronedarone is associated with concentration-dependent prolongation of the QT interval, increased levels may potentiate the risk of ventricular arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes and sudden death.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food increases the oral bioavailability of dronedarone. The mechanism of interaction is unknown. According to the product labeling, the absolute bioavailability of dronedarone increases from about 4% when administered in the fasted state to approximately 15% when administered with a high-fat meal.

MANAGEMENT: Patients treated with dronedarone should avoid consumption of grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and any supplement containing grapefruit extract. Dronedarone should be taken twice daily with the morning and evening meals.