Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR CLOSELY: Concomitant administration of corticosteroids may potentiate the risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture associated with fluoroquinolone treatment. The mechanism is unknown. Tendinitis and tendon rupture have most frequently involved the Achilles tendon, although cases involving the rotator cuff (the shoulder), the hand, the biceps, and the thumb have also been reported. Some have required surgical repair or resulted in prolonged disability. Tendon rupture can occur during or up to several months after completion of fluoroquinolone therapy.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is recommended if fluoroquinolones are prescribed in combination with corticosteroids, particularly in patients with other concomitant risk factors (e.g., age over 60 years; recipient of kidney, heart, and/or lung transplant). Patients should be advised to stop taking the fluoroquinolone, avoid exercise and use of the affected area, and promptly contact their physician if they experience pain, swelling, or inflammation of a tendon. In general, fluoroquinolones should only be used to treat conditions that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria and only if the benefits outweigh the risks.

MONITOR: Coadministration with inducers of CYP450 isoenzymes may decrease the plasma concentrations and pharmacologic effects of ramelteon, which is metabolized by CYP450 1A2 and, to a lesser extent, by CYP450 3A4 and the 2C subfamily of isoenzymes. When a single 32 mg oral dose of ramelteon was administered to healthy volunteers following pretreatment with the potent CYP450 inducer rifampin (600 mg orally once daily for 11 days), total systemic exposure (AUC) to ramelteon and its pharmacologically active metabolite was decreased by an average of approximately 80% (range 40% to 90%). Use with other inducers has not been adequately studied.

MANAGEMENT: The efficacy of ramelteon may be reduced when prescribed with potent inducers of CYP450 isoenzymes such as carbamazepine, enzalutamide, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, and St. John's wort. Other known inducers include aminoglutethimide, bexarotene, bosentan, dabrafenib, dexamethasone, efavirenz, etravirine, mitotane, modafinil, nafcillin, nevirapine, rifabutin, rifapentine, barbiturates and various other anticonvulsants, although the extent to which they interact with ramelteon is unknown.

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of ramelteon. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration of ramelteon with or immediately after a high-fat/heavy meal may delay the onset of hypnotic effects. In study subjects, administration of a 16 mg dose of ramelteon with a high-fat meal decreased the peak plasma drug concentration (Cmax) by 22% and delayed the median time to reach peak plasma drug concentration (Tmax) by approximately 45 minutes compared to administration in a fasted state.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving ramelteon should be advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol. For faster sleep onset, ramelteon should not be administered with or immediately after a high-fat/heavy meal.