Q-Gel

The following dosing information is available for Q-GEL (ubidecarenone/vitamin e acetate):

Dosing
Administration
Dosing Information
Generic

Vitamin E activity is generally expressed in USP or International Units which are equivalent; the International Unit of vitamin E is no longer officially recognized but continues to be used in the labeling of some preparations. It should be noted that vitamin E preparations are historically and incorrectly labeled as d- or dl-alpha-tocopherol and their respective esters. Vitamin E compounds include the all racemic (all rac)-alpha-tocopherol (dl-alpha-tocopherol (RRR-, RRS-, RSR-, RSS-, SSS-, SRS-, SSR-, and SRR-) or synthetic) form and its esters and the RRR-alpha-tocopherol (d-alpha-tocopherol or natural) form and its esters, and any of these compounds may be present in fortified foods and vitamin preparations.

One unit of vitamin E equals the biologic activity of 1 mg of all rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), 1.12 mg of all rac-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate), 910 mcg of all rac-alpha-tocopherol (dl-alpha-tocopherol), 735 mcg of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), 830 mcg of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (d-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate), and 670 mcg of RRR-alpha-tocopherol (d-alpha-tocopherol). However, because the USP potency unit for vitamin E was defined before studies showed a lack of human activity for the 2S-stereoisomers, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Food and Nutrition Board recommended in 2000 that the current equivalency defined in the USP standard be redefined based on the R-stereoisomeric forms of alpha-tocopherol, which are the forms that are active in humans. According to the NAS definition, each USP unit of vitamin E is equivalent to the biologic activity of 450 mcg of the synthetic all rac-alpha-forms of tocopherol and its esters or 670 mcg of the RRR-alpha-forms of tocopherol and its esters.

Vitamin E is usually administered orally. When oral administration is not feasible or when malabsorption is suspected, the drug may be given parenterally as a component of a multivitamin injection. Some clinicians use water-miscible oral vitamin E preparations in patients with malabsorption syndromes.

No dosing information available.

No generic dosing information available.

The following drug interaction information is available for Q-GEL (ubidecarenone/vitamin e acetate):

Contraindicated
Severe
Moderate

There are 0 contraindications.

There are 0 severe interactions.

There are 2 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
Orlistat/Fat Soluble Vitamins SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed. MECHANISM OF ACTION: The acetate ester forms of vitamin A and vitamin E must undergo hydrolysis for absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.(1) The enzyme responsible for this hydrolysis is inhibited by orlistat.(2) CLINICAL EFFECTS: Orlistat may reduce absorption of fat soluble vitamins, leading to a deficiency state. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: A pre-existing deficiency of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) or chronic malabsorption syndrome. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The inhibition of fat soluble vitamin absorption by orlistat should be borne in mind during implementation of a vitamin supplementation strategy. Patients should be strongly encouraged to take a multivitamin supplement which contains fat soluble vitamins, particularly Vitamin D as it appears most susceptible to this interaction.(4,5) Multivitamin supplements should be taken at least two hours before or after the dose of orlistat, or at bedtime.(4) Patients with chronic malabsorption syndromes should not receive orlistat.(4) DISCUSSION: Adult patients taking orlistat without supplementation showed a greater reduction in vitamin A,D,E and beta-carotene levels compared to placebo during two or more consecutive visits in studies of 1-2 years duration; these patients had normal baseline values prior to orlistat therapy. Low vitamin values in orlistat patients were as follows: low Vitamin D 12%, low beta-carotene 6.1%, low Vitamin E 5.8%, low Vitamin A 2.2%.(4) A pharmacokinetic interaction study showed a 30% reduction in beta-carotene supplement absorption and a 60% decreased in vitamin E acetate absorption with concomitant orlistat.(4) In a study, orlistat produced the vitamin net concentration by approximately 43%.(1) In a study, no statistically significant decrease in vitamin A absorption was observed with concurrent orlistat.(2) In a study, mean vitamin D levels were significantly reduced compared with baseline after one month of orlistat therapy despite multivitamin supplementation.(5)	ORLISTAT, XENICAL
Colesevelam/Fat Soluble Vitamins SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed. MECHANISM OF ACTION: Colesevelam may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.(1) CLINICAL EFFECTS: Colesevelam may reduce absorption of fat soluble vitamins, leading to a deficiency state. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: A pre-existing deficiency of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) or chronic malabsorption syndrome. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The inhibition of fat soluble vitamin absorption by colesevelam should be borne in mind during implementation of a vitamin supplementation strategy. Oral multivitamin supplements should be taken at least four hours before the dose of colesevelam.(1) DISCUSSION: Colesevelam may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.(1)	COLESEVELAM HCL, WELCHOL

Drug Interaction

Drug Names

Orlistat/Fat Soluble Vitamins

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

MECHANISM OF ACTION: The acetate ester forms of vitamin A and vitamin E must undergo hydrolysis for absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.(1) The enzyme responsible for this hydrolysis is inhibited by orlistat.(2)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Orlistat may reduce absorption of fat soluble vitamins, leading to a deficiency state.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: A pre-existing deficiency of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) or chronic malabsorption syndrome.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The inhibition of fat soluble vitamin absorption by orlistat should be borne in mind during implementation of a vitamin supplementation strategy. Patients should be strongly encouraged to take a multivitamin supplement which contains fat soluble vitamins, particularly Vitamin D as it appears most susceptible to this interaction.(4,5) Multivitamin supplements should be taken at least two hours before or after the dose of orlistat, or at bedtime.(4) Patients with chronic malabsorption syndromes should not receive orlistat.(4)

DISCUSSION: Adult patients taking orlistat without supplementation showed a greater reduction in vitamin A,D,E and beta-carotene levels compared to placebo during two or more consecutive visits in studies of 1-2 years duration; these patients had normal baseline values prior to orlistat therapy. Low vitamin values in orlistat patients were as follows: low Vitamin D 12%, low beta-carotene 6.1%, low Vitamin E 5.8%,

low Vitamin A 2.2%.(4) A pharmacokinetic interaction study showed a 30% reduction in beta-carotene supplement absorption and a 60% decreased in vitamin E acetate absorption with concomitant orlistat.(4)

In a study, orlistat produced the vitamin net concentration by approximately 43%.(1) In a study, no statistically significant decrease in vitamin A absorption was observed with concurrent orlistat.(2) In a study, mean vitamin D levels were significantly reduced compared with baseline after one month of orlistat therapy despite multivitamin supplementation.(5)

ORLISTAT, XENICAL

Colesevelam/Fat Soluble Vitamins

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

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Colesevelam may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Colesevelam may reduce absorption of fat soluble vitamins, leading to a deficiency state.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: A pre-existing deficiency of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) or chronic malabsorption syndrome.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The inhibition of fat soluble vitamin absorption by colesevelam should be borne in mind during implementation of a vitamin supplementation strategy. Oral multivitamin supplements should be taken at least four hours before the dose of colesevelam.(1)

DISCUSSION: Colesevelam may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.(1)

COLESEVELAM HCL, WELCHOL

Moderate List
Biliary obstruction
Disease of liver
Hypotension
Increased risk of bleeding due to coagulation disorder
Vitamin K deficiency induced hypoprothrombinemia