Drug Interaction Report

Both ketamine and safinamide can increase blood pressure and heart rate, and combining them may enhance these effects. Talk to your doctor before using these medications, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure or heart disease. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Contact your doctor if your condition changes or you experience increased side effects. 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.

Using ketamine together with ethanol (alcohol) may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, excessive sedation, and respiratory depression. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with ketamine. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving, operating hazardous machinery, or engaging in potentially hazardous activities until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. 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.

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of ketamine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should not drink alcohol during treatment with ketamine. If you have received ketamine for anesthesia, you should avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery for at least 24 hours and until you know how the medication affects you. If you are taking ketamine orally, you should also avoid the consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which can significantly increase blood levels and side effects of the medication. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. 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.

Safinamide may be taken with or without food. While there is no need to strictly avoid most foods and beverages that contain tyramine (usually aged, fermented, cured, smoked, or pickled foods such as air-dried and fermented meats or fish, aged cheeses, most soybean products, yeast extracts, red wine, beer, and sauerkraut) during treatment with safinamide, certain foods such as some of the aged cheeses (for example, Boursault, Liederkrantz, Mycella, and Stilton) and pickled herring may contain very high amounts of tyramine and should generally be avoided if possible. Consumption of very high levels of tyramine (greater than 150 mg) while on safinamide treatment may lead to dangerous increases in your blood pressure, a condition known as hypertensive crisis. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are uncertain about what foods, if any, to avoid. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience sudden and severe headache, blurred vision, confusion, seizures, chest pain, nausea or vomiting, sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), speech difficulties, fever, sweating, lightheadedness, and/or fainting during treatment with safinamide, as these may be signs and symptoms of a hypertensive crisis. Do not take larger doses or use the medication more frequently than prescribed. 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.