Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Concurrent use of olopatadine nasal spray with alcohol or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants may result in additive impairment of mental alertness and performance. Somnolence has been reported in some patients using olopatadine nasal spray in clinical trials.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of olopatadine nasal spray with alcohol or other CNS depressants should generally be avoided if possible. In the event that they are used together, 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 doctor 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: Alcohol may increase the plasma concentrations of ezogabine. In a study of healthy volunteers, the administration of ezogabine 200 mg in combination with ethanol 1g/kg (5 standard alcohol drinks) over 20 minutes resulted in an increase in the ezogabine peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by 23% and 37%, respectively.

Food does not significantly affect the bioavailability of ezogabine. According to the product labeling, high-fat food does not affect the extent to which ezogabine is absorbed, but increases peak plasma concentration (Cmax) by approximately 38% and delays the time to reach peak concentration (Tmax) by 0.75 hour.

MANAGEMENT: In general, alcohol consumption should be avoided or limited during treatment with CNS-depressant agents. Patients should be advised of the potential for increased dose-related adverse reactions of ezogabine (e.g., dizziness, somnolence, nausea, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision, memory impairment, tremor) when taken with alcohol, and to avoid hazardous activities that require mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how the medication affects them. Ezogabine can be taken with or without food.