Quinidine anticonvulsants

Drugs that may affect nelfinavir include anticonvulsants, azithromycin, azole antifungals, efavirenz, delavirdine, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, indinavir, interleukins, nevirapine, rifabutin, rifampin, ritonavir, saquinavir, St. John s wort. Drugs that may be affected by nelfinavir include amiodarone, antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, quinidine), azithromycin, benzodiazepines, efavirenz, ergot alkaloids, delavirdine, didanosine, fentanyl, indinavir, lamivudine methadone, nonsedating antihistamines, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, pimozide, quinidine, rifabutin, saquinavir, sildenafil, sirolimus, tacrolimus, zidovudine. 

It is a anticonvulsant drug and depresses the ventricular automaticity and accelerates the AV conduction. It also reduces the duration of action potential like quinidine. It also shortens the QT interval. It mainly blocks inactivated Na+ channels. It is used for the suppression of ectopic beats and for prophylaxis of recurrent paroxysmal tachycardia and also for the treatment of rapid supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia. 

In contrast to anticonvulsants and alcohol, drugs such as bupropion, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, quinidine, paroxetine, and some antipsychotics can inhibit specific CYP enzymes (7, 11, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43 and 44). Thus, TCAs, certain BZDs, bupropion, some steroids, and antipsychotics can all have their metabolism inhibited by drugs such as fluoxetine. For example, fluoxetine at 20 mg/day produces on average a 500% increase in the levels of coprescribed drugs which are principally dependent on CYP 2D6 for their clearance. That can lead to serious or even life-threatening toxicity if the drug has a narrow therapeutic index and the dose is not adjusted for the change in clearance caused by the coadministration of fluoxetine. 

Data JL, Wilkinson GR, Nies AS. Interaction of quinidine with anticonvulsant drugs. N Engl J Med 1976 294 699-702. 

ANTIARRHYTHMIC agents (Class I agents, e.g. disopyramide, flecainide. lignocaine. procainamide, quinidine) are sodium-channel blockers and are mainly used to treat atrial and ventricular tachycardias (see antiarrhythmic agents). ANTIEPILEPTICS have a number of mechanisms of action, but some appear to have a component involving modulation of sodium-channel function, e.g. carbamaxepine and phenytoin (see anticonvulsants). 

Na+ Anticonvulsant drugs Class I antiarrhythmics Diuretic drugs Local anesthetic drugs Carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid lA Disopyramide, procainamide, quinidine IB Lidocaine, mexiletine, phenytoin, tocainide IC Encainide, flecainide, propafenone Amiloride Bupivacaine, cocaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, tetracaine... 

Established interactions of clinical importance although the documentation is limited. The concurrent use of phenytoin, primidone, phenobarbital or any other barbiturate need not be avoided, but be alert for the need to increase the quinidine dosage. If the anticonvulsants are withdrawn the quinidine dosage may need to be reduced to avoid quinidine toxicity. Where possible, quinidine serum levels should be monitored. 

Rodgers GC, Blackman MS. Quinidine interaction with anticonvulsants. Drug Intell Clin Pharm ( 9S3) 17,819-20. 

---