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.

GENERALLY AVOID: Like other class III antiarrhythmic agents, dofetilide can cause dose-related QT interval prolongation. 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 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 dofetilide with other drugs that can prolong the QT interval has not been studied and is not recommended.

Dofetilide is metabolized to a small extent by CYP450 3A4 microsomal enzymes in the liver. The clinician should be aware of the potential for an interaction when dofetilide is used in combination with another medication that induces CYP450 3A4. When concomitant therapy is required, the manufacturer recommends monitoring the patient for alterations in therapeutic effect. Dosage modifications may be necessary.

In vitro data suggest that grapefruit juice may inhibit the CYP450 3A4 first-pass metabolism of dofetilide. Decreased first-pass metabolism may increase dofetilide concentrations and increase the risk of QT interval prolongation and arrhythmias. The clinical significance is unknown, since dofetilide has a high oral bioavailability and a low affinity for CYP450 3A4. The manufacturer recommends caution.