Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Coadministration with belzutifan may decrease the plasma concentrations and therapeutic effects of drugs that are substrates of CYP450 3A4. The extent of the decrease in concentration and effects may be more pronounced in patients who are dual uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B17 and CYP450 2C19 poor metabolizers. The proposed mechanism is increased clearance due to belzutifan-mediated induction of CYP450 3A4. Concomitant use of belzutifan (120 mg once daily) with midazolam (a sensitive CYP450 3A4 substrate) decreased the midazolam systemic exposure (AUC) and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) by 40% and 34%, respectively. In patients with higher belzutifan concentrations (e.g., dual UGT 2B17 and CYP450 2C19 poor metabolizers) the AUC of midazolam is predicted to decrease by up to 70%.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when belzutifan is used concomitantly with drugs that undergo metabolism by CYP450 3A4. Dosage adjustments as well as clinical and laboratory monitoring may be appropriate for some drugs whenever belzutifan is added to or withdrawn from therapy. Patients should be monitored for diminished therapeutic effects.

GENERALLY AVOID: Use of alcohol or products containing alcohol during nitroimidazole therapy may result in a disulfiram-like reaction in some patients. There have been a few case reports involving metronidazole, although data overall are not convincing. The presumed mechanism is inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) by metronidazole in a manner similar to disulfiram. Following ingestion of alcohol, inhibition of ALDH results in increased concentrations of acetaldehyde, the accumulation of which can produce an unpleasant physiologic response referred to as the 'disulfiram reaction'. Symptoms include flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, respiratory difficulty, nausea, vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, and confusion. Severe reactions may result in respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and death. However, some investigators have questioned the disulfiram-like properties of metronidazole. One study found neither elevations in blood acetaldehyde nor objective or subjective signs of a disulfiram-like reaction to ethanol in six subjects treated with metronidazole (200 mg three times a day for 5 days) compared to six subjects who received placebo.

MANAGEMENT: Because clear evidence is lacking concerning the safety of ethanol use during nitroimidazole therapy, patients should be apprised of the potential for interaction and instructed to avoid alcoholic beverages and products containing alcohol or propylene glycol while using oral, intravenous, or vaginal preparations of a nitroimidazole. Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed for up to 3 days after completion of systemic nitroimidazole therapy.