Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Coadministration of narcotic analgesics with antidiarrheal agents may have additive central nervous system (CNS) and gastrointestinal (GI) system effects, and increase the risk of severe constipation or paralytic ileus and CNS depression.

MANAGEMENT: If concomitant use cannot be avoided, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS depression and constipation. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them.

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.