Allergenic Extract-Fire Ant

Drug overview for ALLERGENIC EXTRACT-FIRE ANT (allergenic extract-fire ant):

Generic name: ALLERGENIC EXTRACT-FIRE ANT
Drug class:
Therapeutic class: Biologicals

No enhanced Introduction information available for this drug.

No enhanced Uses information available for this drug.

DRUG IMAGES

FIRE ANT 1:20 (W/V) VIAL

The following indications for ALLERGENIC EXTRACT-FIRE ANT (allergenic extract-fire ant) have been approved by the FDA:

Indications:
None.

Professional Synonyms:
None.

The following drug interaction information is available for ALLERGENIC EXTRACT-FIRE ANT (allergenic extract-fire ant):

Contraindicated
Severe
Moderate

There are 0 contraindications.

There are 1 severe interactions. These drug interactions can produce serious consequences in most patients. Actions required for severe interactions include, but are not limited to, discontinuing one or both agents, adjusting dosage, altering administration scheduling, and providing additional patient monitoring. Review the full interaction monograph for more information.

Drug Interaction	Drug Names
Allergen Immunotherapy/Beta-Blockers SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction. MECHANISM OF ACTION: Beta-blockers may mask early signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, make the treatment of anaphylaxis more difficult, and increase the severity of the reaction. CLINICAL EFFECTS: Beta-blockers may reduce a patient's ability to survive a systemic allergic reaction to allergen immunotherapy. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis may be masked. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Concurrent use of epinephrine with beta-blockers may result in hypertension with reflex bradycardia. Epinephrine resistance in patients with anaphylaxis has been reported. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Avoid concomitant administration of immunotherapy and beta-blockers if possible. If patients cannot safely discontinue beta-blockers but have a history of moderate to severe sting-induced anaphylaxis, venom immunotherapy is indicated because the risk of anaphylaxis related to a venom sting is greater than the risk of an immunotherapy-related systemic reaction. In patients taking beta-blockers for whom an acceptable alternative is not available, withholding allergen immunotherapy may be the best option. If both drugs are administered, monitor closely for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. Use caution when treating anaphylaxis with epinephrine since response may be poor. Epinephrine administration may worsen anaphylaxis because beta-blockers block the beta effects of epinephrine, which results in predomination of alpha effects. The plasma clearance of epinephrine is decreased. Glucagon may help in the treatment of refractory anaphylaxis in patients receiving beta-blockers. DISCUSSION: In a case report, a patient taking propranolol was administered pollen extract immunotherapy and immediately developed anaphylaxis. Treatment with epinephrine did not improve symptoms and patient was subsequently intubated.(2) In another case report, a patient taking propranolol was given pollen immunotherapy and developed anaphylaxis. Difficulty in maintaining an adequate blood pressure and pulse continued for several hours despite epinephrine and other supportive measures.(3) There are other case reports of patients taking propranolol with venom immunotherapy that were refractory to treatment.(6-7)	ACEBUTOLOL HCL, ATENOLOL, ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE, BETAPACE, BETAPACE AF, BETAXOLOL HCL, BISOPROLOL FUMARATE, BISOPROLOL-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE, BREVIBLOC, BYSTOLIC, CARVEDILOL, CARVEDILOL ER, COREG, COREG CR, CORGARD, ESMOLOL HCL, ESMOLOL HCL-SODIUM CHLORIDE, ESMOLOL HCL-WATER, HEMANGEOL, INDERAL LA, INDERAL XL, INNOPRAN XL, KAPSPARGO SPRINKLE, LABETALOL HCL, LABETALOL HCL-WATER, LOPRESSOR, METOPROLOL SUCCINATE, METOPROLOL TARTRATE, METOPROLOL-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE, NADOLOL, NEBIVOLOL HCL, PINDOLOL, PROPRANOLOL HCL, PROPRANOLOL HCL ER, PROPRANOLOL-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZID, RAPIBLYK, SOTALOL, SOTALOL AF, SOTALOL HCL, SOTYLIZE, TENORETIC 100, TENORETIC 50, TENORMIN, TIMOLOL MALEATE, TOPROL XL

Drug Interaction

Drug Names

Allergen Immunotherapy/Beta-Blockers

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Beta-blockers may mask early signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, make the treatment of anaphylaxis more difficult, and increase the severity of the reaction.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Beta-blockers may reduce a patient's ability to survive a systemic allergic reaction to allergen immunotherapy. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis may be masked.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Concurrent use of epinephrine with beta-blockers may result in hypertension with reflex bradycardia. Epinephrine resistance in patients with anaphylaxis has been reported.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Avoid concomitant administration of immunotherapy and beta-blockers if possible. If patients cannot safely discontinue beta-blockers but have a history of moderate to severe sting-induced anaphylaxis, venom immunotherapy is indicated because the risk of anaphylaxis related to a venom sting is greater than the risk of an immunotherapy-related systemic reaction. In patients taking beta-blockers for whom an acceptable alternative is not available, withholding allergen immunotherapy may be the best option.

If both drugs are administered, monitor closely for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. Use caution when treating anaphylaxis with epinephrine since response may be poor. Epinephrine administration may worsen anaphylaxis because beta-blockers block the beta effects of epinephrine, which results in predomination of alpha effects.

The plasma clearance of epinephrine is decreased. Glucagon may help in the treatment of refractory anaphylaxis in patients receiving beta-blockers.

DISCUSSION: In a case report, a patient taking propranolol was administered pollen extract immunotherapy and immediately developed anaphylaxis. Treatment with epinephrine did not improve symptoms and patient was subsequently intubated.(2) In another case report, a patient taking propranolol was given pollen immunotherapy and developed anaphylaxis.

Difficulty in maintaining an adequate blood pressure and pulse continued for several hours despite epinephrine and other supportive measures.(3) There are other case reports of patients taking propranolol with venom immunotherapy that were refractory to treatment.(6-7)

ACEBUTOLOL HCL, ATENOLOL, ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE, BETAPACE, BETAPACE AF, BETAXOLOL HCL, BISOPROLOL FUMARATE, BISOPROLOL-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE, BREVIBLOC, BYSTOLIC, CARVEDILOL, CARVEDILOL ER, COREG, COREG CR, CORGARD, ESMOLOL HCL, ESMOLOL HCL-SODIUM CHLORIDE, ESMOLOL HCL-WATER, HEMANGEOL, INDERAL LA, INDERAL XL, INNOPRAN XL, KAPSPARGO SPRINKLE, LABETALOL HCL, LABETALOL HCL-WATER, LOPRESSOR, METOPROLOL SUCCINATE, METOPROLOL TARTRATE, METOPROLOL-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE, NADOLOL, NEBIVOLOL HCL, PINDOLOL, PROPRANOLOL HCL, PROPRANOLOL HCL ER, PROPRANOLOL-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZID, RAPIBLYK, SOTALOL, SOTALOL AF, SOTALOL HCL, SOTYLIZE, TENORETIC 100, TENORETIC 50, TENORMIN, TIMOLOL MALEATE, TOPROL XL

There are 1 moderate interactions. The clinician should assess the patient’s characteristics and take action as needed. Actions required for moderate interactions include, but are not limited to, discontinuing one or both agents, adjusting dosage, altering administration.

Drug Interaction	Drug Names
Allergen Immunotherapy/Ustekinumab SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed. MECHANISM OF ACTION: Ustekinumab may decrease the protective effect of allergen immunotherapy. CLINICAL EFFECTS: Ustekinumab may increase the risk of an allergic reaction to allergen immunotherapy. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Exercise caution in patients receiving or who have received allergen immunotherapy. Counsel patients on the possible increased risk of an allergic reaction.(1) DISCUSSION: Concurrent use of ustekinumab and allergen immunotherapy has not been evaluated.(1)	OTULFI, PYZCHIVA, SELARSDI, STELARA, STEQEYMA, USTEKINUMAB, USTEKINUMAB-AEKN, USTEKINUMAB-TTWE, WEZLANA, YESINTEK

Drug Interaction

Drug Names

Allergen Immunotherapy/Ustekinumab

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Ustekinumab may decrease the protective effect of allergen immunotherapy.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Ustekinumab may increase the risk of an allergic reaction to allergen immunotherapy.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Exercise caution in patients receiving or who have received allergen immunotherapy. Counsel patients on the possible increased risk of an allergic reaction.(1)

DISCUSSION: Concurrent use of ustekinumab and allergen immunotherapy has not been evaluated.(1)

OTULFI, PYZCHIVA, SELARSDI, STELARA, STEQEYMA, USTEKINUMAB, USTEKINUMAB-AEKN, USTEKINUMAB-TTWE, WEZLANA, YESINTEK

The following precautions are available for ALLERGENIC EXTRACT-FIRE ANT (allergenic extract-fire ant):

Pediatric
Pregnant
Lactation
Geriatric

No enhanced Pediatric Use information available for this drug.

Contraindicated

None

Severe Precaution

None

Management or Monitoring Precaution

None

No enhanced Pregnancy information available for this drug.

No enhanced Lactation information available for this drug.

No enhanced Geriatric Use information available for this drug.