Drug Interaction Report

Fexinidazole may increase the blood levels of sparsentan. This may increase the risk of side effects such as hepatotoxicity, acute kidney injury, hyperkalemia (high blood potassium), edema, and hypotension. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications. You should seek medical attention if you have fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, dizziness, fainting, confusion, shortness of breath, weak pulse or a slow or irregular heartbeat, unusual bleeding or bruising, tingling of the hands and feet, feelings of heaviness in the legs, muscle aches, skin rash, itching, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and/or yellowing of the skin or eyes, or pain or burning during urination. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

If you are taking sparsentan you should avoid potassium-containing salt substitutes or over-the-counter potassium supplements without first talking to your doctor. This can cause high levels of potassium in your blood. High levels of potassium can cause weakness, irregular heartbeat, confusion, tingling of the extremities, or feelings of heaviness in the legs. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.

Consumption of grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and supplements that contain grapefruit should be avoided during treatment with sparsentan as they may increase the blood levels of sparsentan. This may increase the risk of side effects such as hepatotoxicity, acute kidney injury, hyperkalemia, edema, and hypotension.

Swallow sparsentan whole with water before your morning or evening meal. Take your dose with the same meal each day. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Food can enhance the levels of fexinidazole in your body. To ensure maximal oral absorption, fexinidazole should be administered with or immediately after the main meal of the day. This will make it easier for your body to absorb the medication. Use of herbal medicines and supplements during treatment with fexinidazole should be avoided. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice should not be consumed during treatment with fexinidazole. Grapefruit juice can significantly increase the blood levels and effects of fexinidazole, which can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether together or alone. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or products containing alcohol or propylene glycol during treatment with fexinidazole may occasionally trigger a reaction in some patients similar to the disulfiram reaction, which includes unpleasant effects such as flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, palpitation, low blood pressure, dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, and confusion. Rarely, more severe reactions may include abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack, heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and even death. Patients treated with fexinidazole should avoid using any products containing alcohol or propylene glycol during and for at least 48 hours after completion of therapy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions on how to take this or other medications you are prescribed. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.