Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Macimorelin can cause prolongation of the QT interval. Theoretically, coadministration with other agents that can prolong the QT interval may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes and sudden death. In a dedicated thorough QT study consisting of 60 healthy subjects, a mean baseline- and placebo-adjusted change in QTcF of 9.6 msec was observed 4 hours following administration of a supratherapeutic dose of macimorelin 2 mg/kg (4 times the recommended dose), which occurred after the mean maximum macimorelin plasma concentration (0.5 hour). A similar increase in the QTcF interval was also observed in a single-ascending dose study, which included three dose levels: 0.5 mg/kg; 1 mg/kg (2 times the recommended dose); and 2 mg/kg (4 times the recommended dose). All three doses levels produced a similar magnitude of QTcF prolongation as reported in the thorough QT study, suggesting an absence of dose-dependent changes. The mechanism for the observed QTcF prolongation is unknown. In general, the risk of an individual agent or a combination of agents causing ventricular arrhythmia in association with QT prolongation is largely unpredictable but may be increased by certain underlying risk factors such as congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac disease, and electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia). In addition, the extent of drug-induced QT prolongation is dependent on the particular drug(s) involved and dosage(s) of the drug(s).

MANAGEMENT: Coadministration of macimorelin with other drugs that can prolong the QT interval should generally be avoided. A sufficient washout period following discontinuation of these drugs is recommended prior to macimorelin administration. Patients treated with any medication that can cause QT prolongation should be advised to seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms that could indicate the occurrence of torsade de pointes such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, palpitation, irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, or syncope.

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of sertraline. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In addition, limited clinical data suggest that consumption of grapefruit juice during treatment with sertraline may result in increased plasma concentrations of sertraline. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism by certain compounds present in grapefruit. An in-vitro study demonstrated that grapefruit juice dose-dependently inhibits the conversion of sertraline to its metabolite, desmethylsertraline. In a study with eight Japanese subjects, mean plasma levels of sertraline increased by approximately 100% and maximum plasma concentrations increased by 66% after the ingestion of three 250 mL glasses of grapefruit juice per day for 5 days and administration of a single dose of sertraline 75 mg on the sixth day. In another small study with 5 patients, mean sertraline trough levels increased by 47% after taking sertraline for at least 6 weeks, then taking sertraline with 240 mL grapefruit juice daily for 1 week. The clinical significance is unknown; however, pharmacokinetic alterations associated with interactions involving grapefruit juice are often subject to a high degree of interpatient variability. The possibility of significant interaction in some patients should be considered.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving sertraline should be 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 sertraline affects them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities. Some authorities recommend that consumption of grapefruit juice should be avoided during sertraline therapy.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food reduces the oral bioavailability of macimorelin. According to the product labeling, administration with a liquid meal decreased macimorelin peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by 55% and 49%, respectively, compared to administration under fasting conditions (i.e., for at least 8 hours).

MANAGEMENT: Macimorelin should be administered after fasting for at least 8 hours.