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Drug Interaction Report

2 potential interactions and/or warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

cholestyramine dexAMETHasone

Applies to: Locholest Light (cholestyramine), TaperDex (dexamethasone)

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Concurrent administration of bile acid sequestrants may delay and/or decrease the absorption of oral corticosteroids. Bile acid sequestrants can bind certain drugs in the intestine to form an insoluble complex that is excreted in the feces. Reduced bioavailability of hydrocortisone has been reported during concomitant administration with cholestyramine and colestipol. It is not known whether the interaction occurs with other bile acid binding resins such as colesevelam or with corticosteroids other than hydrocortisone, but the possibility should be considered.

MANAGEMENT: Oral corticosteroids should be administered at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after a cholestyramine or colestipol dose, and at least 4 hours before a colesevelam dose.

References

  1. Johansson C, Adamsson U, Stierner U, Lindsten T (1978) "Interaction by cholestyramine on the uptake of hydrocortisone in the gastrointestinal tract." Acta Med Scand, 204, p. 509-12
  2. (2002) "Product Information. Questran (cholestyramine)." Par Pharmaceutical Inc
  3. "Product Information. Colestid (colestipol)." Pharmacia and Upjohn
  4. Nekl KE, Aron DC (1993) "Hydrocortisone-colestipol interaction." Ann Pharmacother, 27, p. 980-1
  5. (2001) "Product Information. Welchol (colesevelam)." Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
View all 5 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

cholestyramine food

Applies to: Locholest Light (cholestyramine)

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Bile acid sequestrants and the phosphate binder, sevelamer, can decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. By binding bile acids, these agents may interfere with normal fat digestion and absorption, thereby preventing the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. When 8 grams of cholestyramine was administered simultaneously with a normal meal containing 250,000 units of vitamin A acetate in four healthy young adult subjects, plasma vitamin A levels were significantly reduced during a 9-hour postprandial period compared to the values obtained with the control meal. Coadministration with 4 grams of cholestyramine had no significant effect. In a crossover study involving healthy subjects, coadministration of sevelamer with calcitriol resulted in a significant reduction in bioavailability for calcitriol (calcitriol with sevelamer vs calcitriol alone: AUC 137 pg*h/mL vs 318 pg*h/mL and Cmax 40.1 pg/mL vs 49.7 pg/mL, respectively). Chronic use of bile acid sequestrants has been rarely associated with an increased bleeding tendency due to hypoprothrombinemia resulting from vitamin K deficiency. Isolated cases of Vitamin A (including one case of night blindness) and D deficiencies have also been reported with chronic cholestyramine therapy.

MANAGEMENT: When bile acid sequestrants are given for prolonged periods, some manufacturers recommend that concomitant supplementation with water-miscible or parenteral forms of fat-soluble vitamins be considered. If oral vitamin supplements are used with cholestyramine or colestipol, advise patients to take them at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after the bile acid sequestrant to minimize the potential impact on their absorption. No recommendations are available for sevelamer, but it may be advisable to follow the same precautions.

References

  1. Gross L, Brotman M (1970) "Hypoprothrombinemia and hemorrhage associated with cholestyramine therapy." Ann Intern Med, 72, p. 95-6
  2. Shojania AM, Grewar D (1986) "Hypoprothrombinemic hemorrhage due to cholestyramine therapy." Can Med Assoc J, 134, p. 609-10
  3. Longstreth GF, Newcomer AD (1975) "Drug-induced malabsorption." Mayo Clin Proc, 50, p. 284-93
  4. Acuna R, Gonzalez Ceron M (1977) "Hypoprothrombinemia and bleeding associated to treatment with cholestyramine (author's transl)." Rev Med Chil, 105, p. 27-8
  5. (2001) "Product Information. Rocaltrol (calcitriol)." Roche Laboratories
  6. (2001) "Product Information. Welchol (colesevelam)." Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
  7. (2005) "Product Information. Fosamax Plus D (alendronate-cholecalciferol)." Merck & Co., Inc
  8. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."
  9. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."
  10. Peirce D, Hossack S, Poole L, et al. (2011) "The effect of sevelamer carbonate and lanthanum carbonate on the pharmacokinetics of oral calcitriol." Nephrol Dial Transplant, 26, p. 1615-21
  11. Vroonhof K, van Rijn HJM, van Hattum J (2003) "Vitamin K deficiency and bleeding after long-term use of cholestyramine." Neth J Med, 61, p. 19-21
View all 11 references

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Therapeutic duplication warnings

No duplication warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.


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Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.