Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Coadministration of daclizumab with other agents known to induce hepatotoxicity may increase the risk of liver injury. Serious drug-related hepatic injury, including liver failure and autoimmune hepatitis, has been reported across controlled and open-label studies in 1.7% of daclizumab-treated patients and may occur at any time during treatment and up to 5 months after treatment cessation. Fatal cases have occurred. In addition, cases of hepatic injury have occurred in patients taking daclizumab concomitantly with other hepatotoxic drugs; however, the contributory role of these other medicines has not been established.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if daclizumab is used with other potentially hepatotoxic agents, including non-prescription products and herbal supplements. Patients treated with daclizumab should have serum transaminase levels and total bilirubin measured prior to initiation of treatment and monthly during treatment in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and the dosing adjusted or interrupted as necessary. Patients should be advised to seek medical attention if they experience potential signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity such as fever, rash, itching, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, malaise, right upper quadrant pain, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food significantly slows the rate but only modestly reduces the extent of absorption of pirfenidone. In healthy, older adult volunteers aged 50 to 66 years, administration of a single 801 mg oral dose of pirfenidone in the fed state resulted in an approximately 50% reduction in peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and a 15% to 20% reduction in systemic exposure (AUC) compared to administration in the fasted state. Median time to reach peak concentration (Tmax) increased from 0.5 hours to 3 hours with food. Less nausea and dizziness were observed in fed subjects compared to fasted subjects.

GENERALLY AVOID: Consumption of grapefruit juice is associated with inhibition of CYP450 1A2 and may increase the plasma concentrations of pirfenidone, which is primarily metabolized by the isoenzyme.

GENERALLY AVOID: Cigarette smoking may reduce pirfenidone exposure due to induction of CYP450 1A2, the isoenzyme primarily responsible for the metabolic clearance of pirfenidone. Following a single 801 mg oral dose of pirfenidone in 25 smokers and 25 healthy nonsmokers, the Cmax and AUC of pirfenidone in smokers were 68% and 46% of those in nonsmokers, respectively.

MANAGEMENT: Pirfenidone should be administered with food to reduce the likelihood of dizziness and gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and vomiting. Patients who experience intolerance to therapy due to these adverse events should be reminded to take pirfenidone with food. If symptoms do not improve, or they worsen in severity, a dosage reduction or discontinuation of therapy may be warranted. Patients should be advised to avoid consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment with pirfenidone. Cigarette smoking should also be avoided during therapy to prevent reduced exposure to pirfenidone.