CYMBALTA (duloxetine hcl)

There are 3 contraindications. These drug combinations generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient. A manufacturer label warning that indicates the contraindication warrants inclusion of a drug combination in this category, regardless of clinical evidence or lack of clinical evidence to support the contraindication.

Drug Interaction	Drug Names
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; SNRIs/Selected MAOIs SEVERITY LEVEL: 1-Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient. MECHANISM OF ACTION: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and MAOIs may act synergistically to increase blood pressure and evoke behavioral excitation. CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use or switching between agents without a sufficient washout period may result in serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include tremor, agitation, diaphoresis, hyperreflexia, clonus, tachycardia, hyperthermia, and muscle rigidity. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The manufacturers of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, nefazodone, and venlafaxine state that concurrent use with MAOIs is contraindicated. A minimum 5 week washout period should separate the switch of fluoxetine to a MAOI. A washout period of at least 21 days is recommended for the switch from vortioxetine to a MAOI. A washout period of at least 2 weeks is recommended for the switch of citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, or vilazodone to a MAOI. A washout period of 7 days is recommended for the switch of dapoxetine, levomilnacipran, nefazodone, desvenlafaxine, and venlafaxine to a MAOI. A washout period of 5 days is recommended for the switch of duloxetine or milnacipran to a MAOI. Prior to starting any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or duloxetine, allow a 2 week washout period after stopping MAOI therapy. These washout recommendations apply to the selective MAO-B inhibitors rasagiline and selegiline as well. If rasagiline is used in combination with fluvoxamine, patients should receive no more than 0.5mg of rasagiline daily. In emergency situations in patients maintained on SSRIs or SNRIs, weigh the availability and safety of alternatives to linezolid and methylene blue against the risk of serotonin syndrome. If linezolid or methylene blue therapy is required, the patient's SSRI or SNRI should be immediately discontinued. Patients should be monitored for serotonin syndrome for 2 weeks (5 weeks in the case of fluoxetine, 21 days in the case of vortioxetine, and 5 days in the case of duloxetine and milnacipran) or until 24 hours after the last dose of linezolid or methylene blue, whichever comes first. In non-emergency situations in patients maintained on SSRIs or SNRIs when linezolid or methylene blue therapy is planned, discontinue the patient's SSRI or SNRI at least 2 weeks (5 weeks in the case of fluoxetine, 21 days in the case of vortioxetine, and 5 days in the case of duloxetine and milnacipran) in advance of linezolid or methylene blue therapy. The patient's SSRI or SNRI therapy may be resumed 24 hours after the last dose of linezolid or methylene blue. Do not initiate SSRI or SNRI therapy in patients receiving linezolid or methylene blue until 24 hours after the last dose of these agents. DISCUSSION: This serious interaction (serotonin syndrome) has been reported with fluoxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine. Although this has been not been reported with the fluvoxamine, nefazodone, or paroxetine, current recommendations by their manufacturers indicate that the potential for this interaction should be assumed. Manufacturer's product information for fluoxetine, paroxetine, and venlafaxine state that concurrent administration of these agents with a MAOI is contraindicated. The other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have shorter half-lives than fluoxetine. Therefore, the time frame during which the interaction would be expected to occur with agents and MAOIs would not be expected to be as prolonged as with fluoxetine. Furazolidone is also known to be a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. In a case report, a patient had stopped taking paroxetine 10 days prior to initiating St. John's wort. The evening after initiating St. John's wort, the patient took a paroxetine. At noon the next day, the patient was able to be awakened, but was incoherent, groggy, slow-moving, and almost unable to get up. Two hours later during an examination, she was groggy and lethargic, but able to respond appropriately. She complained of nausea, weakness, and fatigue. Her vital signs and physical exam were normal, except for a slow response time and limp muscle tone. She did not take any additional paroxetine and was normal the next day. The metabolism of rasagiline has been shown to be inhibited by CYP P-450-1A2 inhibitors such as fluvoxamine. Methylene blue, when administered intravenously, has been shown to reach sufficient concentrations to be a potent inhibitor of MAO-A. Serotonin syndrome has been reported following administration of methylene blue in patients receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Metaxalone is a weak inhibitor of MAO. The FDA AERS contains reports of serotonin syndrome with the concurrent use of linezolid and citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine as well as reports of serotonin syndrome with concurrent injectable methylene blue and citalopram, clomipramine, escitalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine. One or more of the drug pairs linked to this monograph have been included in a list of interactions that should be considered "high-priority" for inclusion and should not be inactivated in EHR systems. This DDI subset was vetted by an expert panel commissioned by the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology.	AZILECT, EMSAM, FURAZOLIDONE, MARPLAN, MATULANE, METAXALONE, METHYLENE BLUE, NARDIL, PARNATE, PHENELZINE SULFATE, PROCARBAZINE HCL, PROVAYBLUE, RASAGILINE MESYLATE, SELEGILINE HCL, TRANYLCYPROMINE SULFATE, XADAGO, ZELAPAR
Thioridazine/Selected SSRIs; Duloxetine SEVERITY LEVEL: 1-Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient. MECHANISM OF ACTION: Dapoxetine,(1) duloxetine,(2) fluoxetine,(3-7) and paroxetine(3,4) may inhibit the metabolism of thioridazine by CYP2D6. Fluvoxamine may inhibit the metabolism of thioridazine by CYP2C19 and/or CYP1A2.(8) CLINICAL EFFECTS: The concurrent administration of dapoxetine, duloxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, or paroxetine with thioridazine may result in elevated levels of thioridazine. Elevated levels of thioridazine may augment thioridazine-induced prolongation of the QTc interval, which may increase the risk of serious, potentially fatal, cardiac arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes.(3,4) PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Patients who are CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers may be affected to a greater extent by CYP2D6 inhibitors. Patients who are CYP2D6 poor metabolizers lack CYP2D6 function and are not affected by CYP2D6 inhibition. The risk of QT prolongation or torsades de pointes may be increased in patients with cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart failure, myocardial infarction, history of torsades de pointes, congenital long QT syndrome), hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, bradycardia, female gender, or advanced age.(15) Concurrent use of more than one drug known to cause QT prolongation or higher systemic concentrations of either QT prolonging drug are additional risk factors for torsades de pointes. Factors which may increase systemic drug concentrations include rapid infusion of an intravenous dose or impaired metabolism or elimination of the drug (e.g. co-administration with an agent which inhibits its metabolism or elimination, genetic impairment in drug metabolism or elimination, and/or renal/hepatic dysfunction).(15) PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Use an alternative antipsychotic agent. The concurrent use of thioridazine with dapoxetine,(1) duloxetine,(2) fluoxetine,(3-5,7) fluvoxamine,(3,4,8) or paroxetine(3,4,9,10) is contraindicated. If thioridazine cannot be discontinued, use an alternative to the interacting SSRI or duloxetine and evaluate patient for predisposing risk factors for QT prolongation. Correct modifiable risk factors and monitor for QT prolongation as appropriate throughout treatment with thioridazine. If alternative treatment is not possible and concurrent therapy is deemed medically necessary, strongly consider obtaining serum calcium, magnesium, and potassium levels and monitoring ECG at baseline and at regular intervals. Correct any electrolyte abnormalities. Instruct patients to report any irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting. At least 7 days should elapse following the discontinuation of dapoxetine before thioridazine is initiated and at least 14 days should elapse following the discontinuation of thioridazine before dapoxetine is initiated.(1) At least five weeks should elapse following the discontinuation of fluoxetine before thioridazine is initiated.(5-7) DISCUSSION: In a study, pretreatment with duloxetine (60 mg twice daily) increased the area-under-curve (AUC) of a single dose of desipramine (50 mg) by 3-fold. Desipramine is metabolized by CYP2D6.(2) In a study in 10 patients, concurrent fluvoxamine (25 mg twice daily) resulted in a 3-fold increase in the levels of thioridazine and its two active metabolites, mesoridazine and sulforidazine.(11) A study in six slow and 13 rapid metabolizers of debrisoquin showed that slow metabolizers of debrisoquin had 2.4-fold and 4.5-fold higher thioridazine maximum concentration (Cmax) and AUC, respectively, than rapid metabolizers.(5,6,12) Slow metabolizers of debrisoquin have a genetic defect that results in low levels of CYP2D6.(3) A study in healthy subjects showed a thioridazine dose-related prolongation of the QTc interval.(13) A study in schizophrenic patients found no changes in thioridazine levels following the addition of citalopram.(14)	THIORIDAZINE HCL, THIORIDAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Selected CYP1A2 Substrates/Viloxazine SEVERITY LEVEL: 1-Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient. MECHANISM OF ACTION: Viloxazine is a strong inhibitor of CYP1A2 and may increase the total exposure of sensitive CYP1A2 substrates.(1) The FDA defines strong inhibition as an increase in drug area-under-curve (AUC) greater than 5-fold.(2) CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use of viloxazine with drugs primarily metabolized by CYP1A2 may lead to elevated drug levels and increase the risk of adverse reactions associated with the CYP1A2 substrate.(1) PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Drugs linked to this monograph have a narrow therapeutic window or are sensitive to CYP1A2 inhibition. Coadministration of viloxazine with sensitive CYP1A2 substrates or CYP1A2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic window is contraindicated.(1) DISCUSSION: Concomitant use of viloxazine significantly increases the total exposure, but not peak exposure, of sensitive CYP1A2 substrates, which may increase the risk of adverse reactions associated with these CYP1A2 substrates. In a study, viloxazine increased the AUC of caffeine by almost 6-fold.(1) CYP1A2 substrates linked to this monograph include: agomelatine, alosetron, aminophylline, duloxetine, ramelteon, tasimelteon, and theophylline.(2,3)	QELBREE

Drug contraindication overview.

*Concurrent or recent (i.e., within 14 days) therapy with a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor intended to treat psychiatric disorders. Use of an MAO inhibitor intended to treat psychiatric disorders within 5 days of duloxetine discontinuance. *Initiation of duloxetine in a patient receiving MAO inhibitors such as linezolid or IV methylene blue.

Adverse reaction overview.

Adverse effects reported in 5% or more of adults receiving duloxetine include nausea, dry mouth, somnolence, constipation, decreased appetite, and increased sweating. Adverse effects reported in 5% or more of pediatric patients receiving duloxetine include decreased weight, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea.

Safety and efficacy of duloxetine have been established in children 7-17 years of age for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, and in adolescents 13-17 years of age for the treatment of juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome. Safety and efficacy of duloxetine have not been established in pediatric patients with major depressive disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, or chronic musculoskeletal pain. Use of duloxetine for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in children 7-17 years of age is supported by one 10-week, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Safety and efficacy of duloxetine for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in children <7 years of age have not been established. Use of duloxetine for the treatment of fibromyalgia in adolescents 13-17 years of age is supported by one 13-week, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Safety and efficacy of duloxetine for the treatment of fibromyalgia in pediatric patients <13 years of age have not been established.

Safety and efficacy of duloxetine for major depressive disorder have not been established in pediatric patients. In two 10-week, placebo-controlled trials, duloxetine failed to establish superiority for major depressive disorder compared to placebo. A greater risk of suicidal thinking or behavior (suicidality) occurred during the first few months of antidepressant treatment compared with placebo in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or other psychiatric disorders based on pooled analyses of 24 short-term, placebo-controlled trials of 9 antidepressant drugs (SSRIs and other antidepressants).

No suicides occurred in these pediatric trials. Monitor all pediatric patients receiving antidepressant therapy for clinical worsening and the development of suicidal thinking or behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment and during dosage changes. Decreased appetite and loss of weight have been observed with use of SSRIs and SNRIs. Regular monitoring of weight and growth is also recommended in pediatric patients receiving duloxetine.

Contraindicated

None

Severe Precaution

None

Management or Monitoring Precaution

None