Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Based on in vitro inhibition data, coadministration with mifepristone may increase the plasma concentrations of drugs that are substrates of the CYP450 3A4 isoenzyme. The mechanism is decreased clearance due to inhibition of CYP450 3A4 activity by mifepristone.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if mifepristone must be used concomitantly with medications that undergo metabolism by CYP450 3A4, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic range. Dosage adjustments as well as clinical and laboratory monitoring may be appropriate for some drugs whenever mifepristone is added to or withdrawn from therapy. Because mifepristone is eliminated slowly from the body, drug interactions may be observed for a prolonged period following discontinuation (approximately 2 to 3 weeks if mifepristone had been administered chronically to steady state).

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.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food may significantly increase the plasma concentrations of mifepristone.

GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of mifepristone. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit. Because pharmacokinetic interactions involving grapefruit juice are often subject to a high degree of interpatient variability, the extent to which a given patient may be affected is difficult to predict.

MANAGEMENT: When mifepristone is used daily to control hyperglycemia secondary to hypercortisolism in patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome, it should be taken with food to achieve consistent plasma drug levels. Patients should be advised to avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with mifepristone, as it may cause increased adverse effects such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, hypokalemia, adrenal insufficiency, vaginal bleeding, arthralgia, peripheral edema, and hypertension. Because mifepristone is eliminated slowly from the body, the interaction with grapefruit juice may be observed for a prolonged period.

Coadministration with grapefruit juice may increase the bioavailability of oral estrogens. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall induced by certain compounds present in grapefruits. In a small, randomized, crossover study, the administration of ethinyl estradiol with grapefruit juice (compared to herbal tea) increased peak plasma drug concentration (Cmax) by 37% and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) by 28%. Based on these findings, grapefruit juice is unlikely to affect the overall safety profile of ethinyl estradiol. However, as with other drug interactions involving grapefruit juice, the pharmacokinetic alterations are subject to a high degree of interpatient variability. Also, the effect on other estrogens has not been studied.