Triazolam with macrolides

Like fluoxetine, erythromycin and other macrolides inhibit the CYP-3A isoenzyme and increase the levels and effects of the triazolobenzodiazepines (Shader and Greenblatt, 1995 Chouinard et ah, 1999). Midazolam should be avoided or the dosage dropped by 50% in patients receiving erythromycin (Olkkola et ah, 1993). Ketoconazole and itraconazole may also interact with triazolam and midazolam, and combinations of these drugs should be avoided (Varhe et ah, 1994 Chouinard et ah, 1999). 

Nefazodone substantially decreases the clearance rate for triazolam, which results in a 400% increase in triazolam s serum levels (131). Erythromycin can also interfere with the metabolism of triazolam, resulting in decreased clearance and increased plasma levels, possibly causing toxicity. Troleandomycin and other macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, flurithromycin, josamycin, midecamycin, or roxithromycin, also may inhibit triazolam s metabolism (132). The coadministration of itraconazoie and triazolam can produce a marked elevation of triazolam plasma levels associated with statistically significant impairment of psychomotor tests and a prolongation of other effects (e.g., amnesia, lethargy, and confusion) for hours after awakening ( 133). 

With the important exception of additive effects when combined with other CNS depressants, including alcohol, BZDs interact with very few drugs. Disulfiram (see the section The Alcoholic Patient in Chapter 14) and cimetidine may increase BZD blood levels, and diazepam may increase blood levels of digoxin and phenytoin. Antacids may reduce the clinical effects of clorazepate by hindering its biotransformation to desmethyidiazepam. Coadministration of a BZD and another drug known to induce seizures may possibly increase seizure risk, especially if the BZD is abruptly withdrawn. Furthermore, as noted earlier, important interactions have been reported among nefazodone, erythromycin, troleandomycin, and other macrolide antibiotics, as well as itraconazole. In each case, metabolism is inhibited, and triazolam levels can increase significantly. 

Figure 3 Rates of formation of 4-OH-triazolam from triazolam (250 pM) by human liver microsomes in vitro. Each point is the mean ( SE) of four microsomal preparations. Reaction velocities when preparations were preincubated with the macrolide agents are expressed as a percentage of the control velocity with no inhibitor present (inhibitor = 0). Mean IC50 were TAO, 3.3 pM erythromycin, 27.3 pM clarithromycin, 25.2 pM azithromycin, >250 pM. Abbreviations IC50, 50% inhibitory concentrations TAO, troleandomycin. Source Adapted, in part, from Ref. 77.

Interactions of macrolides with triazolam are clinically relevant. Increases in serum concentration, AUC, and half-life, and a reduction in clearance have been documented (20-22). These changes can result in clinical effects, such as prolonged psychomotor impairment, amnesia, or loss of consciousness. 

The serum levels and effects of midazolam, triazolam and zopi-clone are markedly increased and prolonged by erythromycin. The same interaction has been seen with clarithromycin, josamy-cin, or troleandomycin but not azithromycin. Alprazolam would be expected to be similarly affected. Other benzodiazepines, and the related hypnotic zaleplon, appear not to interact with the macrolides to a clinically significant extent... 

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