Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: The safety and efficacy of live, attenuated cholera vaccine have not been established in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies, including alkylating agents, antimetabolites, radiation, some antirheumatic agents, high dosages of corticosteroids or adrenocorticotropic agents, and long-term topical or inhaled corticosteroids. It is not known whether immunosuppressed patients may have an increased risk of adverse reactions or a decreased or suboptimal immunologic response to the vaccine.

MANAGEMENT: The safety and efficacy of live, attenuated cholera vaccine have not been established in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies. Some authorities consider coadministration of live, attenuated oral cholera vaccine with immunosuppressant therapies contraindicated. Administration of live attenuated vaccines in severely immunocompromised persons is generally considered a contraindication. The risks of adverse reactions or a decreased or suboptimal immunologic response should be weighed against the benefits of vaccination. Current local immunization guidelines and individual product labeling for the prescribed immunosuppressive therapy should be consulted for further information.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Coadministration of oral cholera vaccine with food or an oral beverage may impair its efficacy. The formulations of both the inactivated and live, attenuated oral cholera vaccines (Dukoral and Vaxchora, respectively) are acid-labile, and must be administered with a buffer. According to the manufacturer, eating and drinking may interfere with the protective effect of the buffer. However, clinical data are not available.

MANAGEMENT: It is recommended that patients avoid eating or drinking for 60 minutes before and after administration of either Dukoral or Vaxchora oral cholera vaccines.

MONITOR: Concomitant use of asparaginase with other hepatotoxic agents may potentiate the risk of liver injury. Asparaginase-associated hepatotoxicity has been reported more commonly in adults than in children and has been strongly associated with obesity. Hepatomegaly, acute severe hepatotoxicity, and fatal liver failure have been reported with asparaginase treatment in adults. Also, asparaginase may increase the toxicity of drugs bound to plasma proteins or metabolized by the liver.

MANAGEMENT: The risk of additive hepatotoxicity should be considered when asparaginase is used with other hepatotoxic agents (e.g., alcohol, androgens, antituberculosis agents, azole antifungal agents, ACE inhibitors, macrolide antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, sulfonamides, thiazolidinediones, and statins). Liver function tests should be monitored at regular intervals during asparaginase treatment with or without other hepatotoxic drugs. Patients should be advised to seek medical attention if they experience potential symptoms of hepatotoxicity such as right upper quadrant pain, increasing abdominal size, fever, rash, itching, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, malaise, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice.