Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Concurrent use of cetirizine or levocetirizine with alcohol or other agents that exhibit central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects may result in additive impairment of mental alertness and performance. Several studies have shown no effect of racemic cetirizine on cognitive function, motor performance, or sleep latency as indicated by objective measurements. However, there have been reports of somnolence, fatigue, and asthenia in some patients treated with cetirizine or levocetirizine in clinical trials.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of cetirizine or levocetirizine with alcohol or other CNS depressants should generally be avoided if possible. In the event that they are used together, patients should be counseled against driving, operating machinery, or engaging in potentially hazardous activities requiring 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.

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.

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.