Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with potent or moderate inducers of CYP450 3A4 may decrease the plasma concentrations of bedaquiline, which is primarily metabolised by CYP450 3A4 to the major N-monodesmethyl metabolite, M2. Because M2 is 4- to 6-fold less active than the parent drug in terms of antimycobacterial potency, the interaction may diminish the therapeutic effect of bedaquiline. In healthy volunteers, administration of a single 300 mg dose of bedaquiline in combination with rifampin 600 mg once daily for 21 days reduced bedaquiline systemic exposure (AUC) by 52% compared to administration alone. Another study involving healthy volunteers revealed a 20% decrease in the AUC and no change in the Cmax of bedaquiline (400 mg once) when administered with efavirenz (600 mg once daily for 27 days). In addition, when two or more medications with similar adverse effect profiles are given concurrently, the likelihood of experiencing these adverse reactions may be increased. For example, coadministration with other agents that can prolong the QT interval (e.g., apalutamide, encorafenib, enzalutamide) may result in additive effects and an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias like torsade de pointes.

MANAGEMENT: The concomitant use of bedaquiline with potent or moderate CYP450 3A4 inducers should generally be avoided.

GENERALLY AVOID: An isolated case report suggests that foods containing large amounts of tyramine may precipitate a hypertensive crisis in patients treated with St. John's wort. The mechanism of interaction is unknown, as St. John's wort is not thought to possess monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibiting activity at concentrations achieved in vivo. The case patient was a 41-year-old man who had been taking St. John's wort for seven days prior to presentation at the emergency room with confusion and disorientation. The patient recalled last eating aged cheese and having a glass of red wine approximately 10 hours prior to admission. No other cause of delirium or hypertension could be identified. In addition, alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of St. John's wort. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Until further information is available, patients treated with St. John's wort should consider avoiding consumption of protein foods in which aging or breakdown of protein is used to increase flavor. These foods include cheese (particularly strong, aged or processed cheeses), sour cream, wine (particularly red wine), champagne, beer, pickled herring, anchovies, caviar, shrimp paste, liver (particularly chicken liver), dry sausage, figs, raisins, bananas, avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, bean curd, yogurt, papaya products, meat tenderizers, fava beans, protein extracts, and dietary supplements. Caffeine may also precipitate hypertensive crisis so its intake should be minimized as well. Patients should also be advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food enhances the oral bioavailability of bedaquiline. When administered with a standard meal containing approximately 22 grams of fat (558 total Kcal), the relative bioavailability of bedaquiline increased by approximately 2-fold compared to administration under fasted conditions.

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with alcohol may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity associated with the use of bedaquiline. In clinical trials, hepatic adverse drug reactions developed in more bedaquiline-treated patients than in those who received other drugs used to treat tuberculosis. In patients receiving bedaquiline or placebo in combination with other drugs used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, reversible aminotransferase elevations of at least 3 times the upper limit of normal developed more frequently in the bedaquiline treatment group [10.8%] than in the placebo group [5.7%].

MANAGEMENT: To ensure maximal oral absorption, bedaquiline should be taken with food. Patients should avoid alcohol use during treatment.