Macrolides Azoles

Use of a hERG blocker in a patient also taking CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. antibacterial macrolides, azole antifungals, HIV protease inhibitors) or CYP2D6 inhibitors (quinidine, halofantrine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, thioridazine, terbinafine) the hERG blocker, if mostly metabolized by these CYP isoforms, may accumulate because... 

Most abundant isoform wide substrate range inhibited by cimetidine, macrolides, azoles, and ethanol (acute) induced by general P450 inducers such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and rifampin and by ethanol (chronic). 

Inducers (barbiturates, carbamezepine, rifampin) activity ° Inhibitors (cimetidine, macrolides, azole antifungals) —>T activity Protein C deficiency ... 

Specific concomitant medications or consumptions (check specific statin package insert for warnings) fibrates (especially gemfibrozil, but other fibrates too), nicotinic acid (rarely), cyclosporine, azole antifungals such as itraconazole and ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin, protease inhibitors used to treat Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, nefazodone (antidepressant), verapamil, amiodarone, large quantities of grapefruit juice (usually more than 1 quart per day), and alcohol abuse (independently predisposes to myopathy)... 

Jurima-Romet, M., Crawford, K. et al. (1994). Terfenadine metabolism in human liver. In vitro inhibition by macrolide antibiotics and azole antifungals. Drug Metab. Dispos., 22(6), 849-57. 

Azalides azithromycin Azoles fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and voriconazole Macrolides erythromycin, clarithromycin Protease inhibitors amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir Quinolones ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin. 

Macrolide antibiotics (clarithromycin, dehydroerythromycin, etc.) and sulfonamides (sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine, and sulfathi-azole) are the most prevalent antibiotics found in the environment with levels around a few micrograms per liter, whereas fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and penicillins have been detected in fewer cases and usually at low concentrations (nanograms per liter) [3,20,23,72]. This result is not surprising, since penicillins are easily hydrolyzed and tetracyclines readily precipitate with cations such as calcium and are accumulated in sewage sludge or sediments. Several reviews have reported the environmental occurrence of different antibiotics in aquatic and soil compartments. Some of these data are detailed in Table 1. 

One tab qd on an empty stomach. QT prolongation not reported with azole antifungals or macrolide antibiotics. 

Hepatic metabolism of citalopram and escitalopram occurs primarily through cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C19 isoenzymes. Inhibitors of 3A4 (eg, azole antifungals, macrolide antibiotics) and 2C19 (eg, omeprazole) would be expected to increase plasma citalopram levels. Inducters of 3A4 (eg, carbamazepine) would be expected to decrease citalopram and escitalopram levels. 

Drugs that may affect SSRIs Drugs that may affect SSRIs include azole antifungals, barbiturates, carbamazepine, cimetidine, cyproheptadine, lithium, macrolides,... 

Drugs that may interact with rifabutin include the following Anticoagulants, azole antifungal agents, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, buspirone, corticosteroids, cyclosporine, delavirdine, doxycycline, hydantoins, indinavir, rifamycins, losartan, macrolide antibiotics, methadone, morphine, nelfinavir, quinine, quinidine, theophylline, aminophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, and zolpidem. 

Drugs that may affect cyclosporine include allopurinol, amiodarone, androgens (eg, danazol, methyltestosterone), anticonvulsants (eg, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin), azole antifungals (eg, fluconazole, ketoconazole), beta-blockers, bosentan, bromocriptine, calcium channel blockers, colchicine, oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, fluoroquinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), foscarnet, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, imipenem-cilastatin, macrolide antibiotics, methotrexate, metoclopramide, nafcillin, nefazodone, orlistat, potassium-sparing diuretics, probucol, rifamycins (rifampin, rifabutin), serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs eg, fluoxetine, sertraline),... 

Citalopram (Celexa) [Antidepressant/SSRI] WARNING Closely monitor for worsening depression or emergence of suicidality, particularly in pts <24 y Uses Depression Action SSRI Dose Initial 20 mg/d, may t to 40 mg/d X in elderly hqjatic/renal insuff Caution [C, +/-] Hx of mania, Szs pts at risk for suicide Contra MAOI or w/in 14 d of MAOI use Disp Tabs, cap, soln SE Somnolence, insomnia, anxiety, xerostomia, diaphoresis, sexual dysfxn Notes May cause X Na /SIADH Interactions t Effects W/ azole antifungals, cimetidine, Li, macrolides, EtOH t effects OF BBs, carbamazepine, CNS drugs, warfarin X effects W/ carbamaz ine X effects OF phenytoin may cause fatal Rxn W/ MAOIs EMS Use caution w/ CNS depressants, may need a reduced dose concurrent EtOH... 

Quazepam (Doral) [C IV] [Sedative/Hypnotic/ Benzodiazepine] Uses Insomnia Action Benzodiazepine Dose 7.5-15 mg PO hs PRN i in elderly hqjatic failure Caution [X, /-] NA glaucoma Contra PRG, sleep apnea Disp Tabs SE Sedation, hangovCT, somnolence, resp depression Interactions T Effects W/ azole antifungals, cimetidine, digoxin, disulfiram, INH, levodopa, macrolides, neuroleptics, phenytoin, quinolones, SSRIs, verapamil, grapefruit juice, EtOH effects W/carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, tobacco EMS Use caution w/ other benzodiazepines, antihistamines, opioids and verapamil, can T CNS depression concurrent EtOH and grapefruit juice use T CNS depression OD May cause profound CNS depression, confusion, bradycardia, hypotension, and altered reflexes flumazenil can be used as antidote activated charcoal may be effective... 

Maximal plasma concentrations occur 2 to 3 hours after oral administration of reboxetine (178). Reboxetine has linear pharmacokinetics over its clinically relevant dosing range and a half-life of approximately 12 hours. For this latter reason, a twice a day, equally divided dosing schedule was used during clinical trial development. Its clearance is reduced and half-life becomes longer as a function of advanced age (mean = 81 years of age) and renal and hepatic impairment ( 178, 322, 323). Reboxetine is principally metabolized by CYP 3A3/4 such that its dose should be reduced when used in combination with drugs that are substantial inhibitors of CYP (e.g., certain azole antifungals, certain macrolide antibiotics). Reboxetine itself, however, does not cause detectable inhibition of CYP 3A3/4 based on formal in vivo pharmacokinetic interaction studies as well as its own linear pharmacokinetics. 

The risk of myopathy appears to be increased by high levels of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity in plasma. Lovastatin is metabolized by the CYP isoform 3A4. Certain drugs, that share this metabolic pathway can raise the plasma levels of lovastatin and may increase the risk of myopathy. These include cyclosporine, itraconazole, ketoconazole and other antifungal azoles, the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin and clarithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, the antidepressant nefazodone, or large quantities of grapefruit juice (greater than 1 quart daily)... 

Drugs that have been shown, or would be expected, to increase plasma carbamazepine levels include cimetidine, danazol, diltiazem, macrolides, erythromycin, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, loratadine, terfenadine, isoniazid, niacinamide, nicotinamide, propoxyphene, azoles (e.g., ketaconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole), acetazolamide, verapamil, grapefruit juice, ... 

Inhibitors of the CYP3A4 isoenzyme could increase systemic dofetilide exposure. Inhibitors of this isoenzyme (e.g., macrolide antibiotics, azole antifungal agents, protease inhibitors, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, amiodarone, cannabinoids, diltiazem, grapefruit juice, nefazadone, norfloxacin, quinine, and zafirlukast) should be cautiously coadministered with TIKOSYN, because they can potentially increase dofetilide levels... 

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