Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Patients with gastrointestinal conditions may have an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding during concomitant treatment with dabigatran etexilate and proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers. In addition, pantoprazole resulted in an approximately 30% decrease in dabigatran systemic exposure (AUC). Diminished clinical effect may occur, although no dosage adjustment is recommended for dabigatran etexilate. The pharmacokinetics of pantoprazole were not significantly altered by dabigatran. Pantoprazole and other proton pump inhibitors were also coadministered with dabigatran in clinical trials for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events after hip- or knee-replacement surgery, and no effects on bleeding or efficacy were observed. Ranitidine had no significant effects on the absorption of dabigatran.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be monitored for signs of gastrointestinal bleeding and advised to promptly report any symptoms to their physician, such as abdominal pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, vomiting blood, anorexia, and/or black, tarry stools.

H2 antagonists may reduce the clearance of nicotine. Cimetidine, 600 mg given twice a day for two days, reduced clearance of an intravenous nicotine dose by 30%. Ranitidine, 300 mg given twice a day for two days, reduced clearance by 10%. The clinical significance of this interaction is not known. Patients should be monitored for increased nicotine effects when using the patches or gum for smoking cessation and dosage adjustments should be made as appropriate.