Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Coadministration with treosulfan may increase the plasma concentrations of drugs that are substrates of CYP450 3A4, 2C19, and/or the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The proposed mechanism is decreased clearance due to inhibition of these routes of elimination due to treosulfan. According to physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling, treosulfan is predicted to be a weak to moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitor and weak inhibitor of CYP450 2C19, with negligible inhibitory effects on P-gp. However, according to the manufacturer, in vitro studies were unable to exclude potential drug-drug interactions with high plasma concentrations of treosulfan and CYP450 3A4, 2C19, and/or P-gp substrates.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is recommended if treosulfan is coadministered with substrates of CYP450 3A4, 2C19, and/or P-gp, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic range. Some authorities advise that if concomitant use is required, the dosage of these substrates should be administered either 2 hours before or 8 hours after administration of the treosulfan infusion. The prescribing information of the substrates may be consulted for potential dose reductions.

GENERALLY AVOID: Use of alcohol or products containing alcohol during nitroimidazole therapy may result in a disulfiram-like reaction in some patients. There have been a few case reports involving metronidazole, although data overall are not convincing. The presumed mechanism is inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) by metronidazole in a manner similar to disulfiram. Following ingestion of alcohol, inhibition of ALDH results in increased concentrations of acetaldehyde, the accumulation of which can produce an unpleasant physiologic response referred to as the 'disulfiram reaction'. Symptoms include flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, respiratory difficulty, nausea, vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, and confusion. Severe reactions may result in respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and death. However, some investigators have questioned the disulfiram-like properties of metronidazole. One study found neither elevations in blood acetaldehyde nor objective or subjective signs of a disulfiram-like reaction to ethanol in six subjects treated with metronidazole (200 mg three times a day for 5 days) compared to six subjects who received placebo.

MANAGEMENT: Because clear evidence is lacking concerning the safety of ethanol use during nitroimidazole therapy, patients should be apprised of the potential for interaction and instructed to avoid alcoholic beverages and products containing alcohol or propylene glycol while using oral, intravenous, or vaginal preparations of a nitroimidazole. Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed for up to 3 days after completion of systemic nitroimidazole therapy.