Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with potent inducers of CYP450 1A2, CYP450 3A4, and/or P-glycoprotein may decrease the plasma concentrations of pomalidomide, which has been shown to be primarily metabolized by these isoenzymes and also a substrate of the efflux transporter.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of pomalidomide with potent inducers of CYP450 isoenzymes and/or P-glycoprotein 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.

MONITOR: Cigarette smoking may reduce pomalidomide exposure due to induction of CYP450 1A2, the isoenzyme that is responsible for the metabolic clearance of pomalidomide along with CYP450 3A4.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be advised that smoking may reduce the efficacy of pomalidomide therapy. Pomalidomide should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal.