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: Concurrent use of ethanol and phenothiazines may result in additive CNS depression and psychomotor impairment. Also, ethanol may precipitate dystonic reactions in patients who are taking phenothiazines. The two drugs probably act on different sites in the brain, although the exact mechanism of the interaction is not known.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during phenothiazine therapy.