AMLODIPINE-OLMESARTAN (amlodipine besylate/olmesartan medoxomil)

There are 4 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
Simvastatin (Greater Than 20 mg)/Amlodipine 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: Amlodipine may inhibit the metabolism of simvastatin by CYP3A4.(1-7) Levamlodipine is the active isomer of amlodipine.(8) CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent amlodipine may result in elevated levels of simvastatin,(1-7) which may result in myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: The risk for myopathy or rhabdomyolysis may be greater in patients 65 years and older, inadequately treated hypothyroidism, renal impairment, carnitine deficiency, malignant hyperthermia, or in patients with a history of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. Patients with a SLCO1B1 polymorphism that leads to decreased function of the hepatic uptake transporter OATP1B1 may have increased statin concentrations and be predisposed to myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Do not exceed a dosage of 20 mg daily of simvastatin in patients receiving concurrent therapy with amlodipine.(1-4) Consider separating the administration times of amlodipine and simvastatin in patients receiving concurrent therapy with amlodipine and simvastatin doses of 20 mg or less.(5) If concurrent therapy is deemed medically necessary, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis, including muscle pain/tenderness/weakness, fever, unusual tiredness, changes in the amount of urine, and/or discolored urine. DISCUSSION: In a study in 8 patients with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, 4 weeks of concurrent administration of amlodipine (5 mg daily) increased the maximum concentration (Cmax) and area-under-curve (AUC) of simvastatin (5 mg daily) by 43% and 28%, respectively. There were no changes in the lipid-lowering affects of simvastatin.(6) In a study in 17 subjects, administration of amlodipine (5 mg daily) 4 hours after simvastatin (5 mg daily) resulted in Cmax and AUC values of simvastatin that were 63.2% and 66.0%, respectively, of values obtained with simultaneous dosing.(5) Acute renal failure and rhabdomyolysis was reported in patient maintained on amlodipine and alprazolam two days after beginning the maximal dose of simvastatin.(7)	EZETIMIBE-SIMVASTATIN, FLOLIPID, SIMVASTATIN, VYTORIN, ZOCOR
Selected Nephrotoxic Agents/Bacitracin 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: Bacitracin may cause renal failure due to glomerular and tubular necrosis. Concurrent administration of other nephrotoxic agents may result in additive renal toxicity.(1-3) CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use of bacitracin with other potentially nephrotoxic agents may result in renal toxicity.(1-3) PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Dehydration and high-dose bacitracin may predispose to adverse renal effects.(1) PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Health Canada states that bacitracin is contraindicated in patients with renal impairment, including those taking other nephrotoxic drugs.(1) The Canadian and US manufacturers of bacitracin state that concomitant use of bacitracin with other potentially nephrotoxic agents should be avoided.(2,3) DISCUSSION: Renal impairment is a major toxicity of bacitracin. Cases of nephrotoxicity have been reported when bacitracin was used off-label.(1-3)	BACITRACIN, BACITRACIN MICRONIZED, BACITRACIN ZINC
Lemborexant (Greater Than 5 mg)/Weak CYP3A4 Inhibitors 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: Inhibitors of CYP3A4 may inhibit the metabolism of lemborexant.(1) CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use of an inhibitor of CYP3A4 may result in increased levels of and effects from lemborexant, including somnolence, fatigue, CNS depressant effects, daytime impairment, headache, and nightmare or abnormal dreams.(1) PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The maximum recommended dose of lemborexant with concurrent use of a weak CYP3A4 inhibitors should not exceed 5 mg per dose.(1) DISCUSSION: Lemborexant is a CYP3A4 substrate. In a PKPB model, concurrent use of lemborexant with itraconazole increased area-under-curve (AUC) and concentration maximum (Cmax) by 3.75-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. Concurrent use of lemborexant with fluconazole increased AUC and Cmax by 4.25-fold and 1.75-fold, respectively.(1) Weak inhibitors of CYP3A4 include: alprazolam, amiodarone, amlodipine, asciminib, azithromycin, Baikal skullcap, belumosudil, berberine, bicalutamide, blueberry, brodalumab, cannabidiol, capivasertib, chlorzoxazone, cilostazol, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, clotrimazole, cranberry, cyclosporine, daclatasvir, daridorexant, delavirdine, dihydroberberine, diosmin, everolimus, flibanserin, fosaprepitant, fostamatinib, gepotidacin, ginkgo, givinostat, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, goldenseal, grazoprevir, isoniazid, istradefylline, ivacaftor, lacidipine, lapatinib, larotrectinib, lazertinib, leflunomide, levamlodipine, linagliptin, lomitapide, lurasidone, mavorixafor, olaparib, osilodrostat, palbociclib, pazopanib, peppermint oil, piperine, propiverine, propofol, ranitidine, ranolazine, remdesivir, resveratrol, roxithromycin, rucaparib, selpercatinib, simeprevir, sitaxsentan, skullcap, suvorexant, teriflunomide, ticagrelor, tolvaptan, trofinetide, viloxazine, and vonoprazan.(1,2)	DAYVIGO
Sparsentan/Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers; Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; Aliskiren 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: Sparsentan is an antagonist of the endothelin type A receptor and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor which are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.(1) Coadministration with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), or aliskiren may result in additive inhibition of angiotensin. CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use of sparsentan with ARBs, ERAs, or aliskiren may result in hypotension, syncope, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including renal failure).(1) PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Patients with renal artery stenosis, chronic kidney disease, severe congestive heart failure, or volume depletion may be at risk of developing acute kidney injury on sparsentan.(1) Patients with advanced kidney disease or taking concomitant potassium-increasing drugs (e.g., potassium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretics), or using potassium-containing salt substitutes are at increased risk for developing hyperkalemia.(1) PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Do not coadminister sparsentan with ARBs, ERAs, or aliskiren. Prior to initiating treatment with sparsentan, discontinue use of ARBs, ERAs, and aliskiren.(1) DISCUSSION: The US manufacturer of sparsentan states that concomitant use of sparsentan with ARBs, ERAs, or aliskiren is contraindicated.(1)	FILSPARI

Drug contraindication overview.

Concomitant therapy with aliskiren in patients with diabetes mellitus. (See Drug Interactions: Drugs that Block the Renin-Angiotensin System.) Amlodipine is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug.

Adverse reaction overview.

Adverse effects occurring in 1% or more of patients receiving olmesartan, but also occurring at about the same or greater incidence in patients receiving placebo, include back pain, bronchitis, diarrhea, headache, hematuria, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, influenza-like symptoms, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infection. In placebo-controlled studies, the only adverse effect that occurred in more than 1% of patients receiving olmesartan and at an incidence greater than with placebo was dizziness. The incidence of adverse effects was not affected by age, gender, or race.

Adverse effects reported in 1% or more of patients receiving amlodipine include edema, dizziness, flushing, palpitations, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and somnolence. Edema, flushing, palpitations, and somnolence may occur more commonly in women than in men. Edema is dose related and may be less frequent with concomitant use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

If oliguria or hypotension occurs in neonates with a history of in utero exposure to olmesartan, blood pressure and renal function should be supported; exchange transfusions or dialysis may be required. (See Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality under Warnings/Precautions: Warnings, in Cautions.) Safety and efficacy of olmesartan have been established in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in pediatric patients 6-16 years of age with hypertension. Patients in the study were enrolled into 1 of 2 cohorts (an all-black or mixed racial cohort, 18% of whom were black).

In both groups, olmesartan (given in a weight-adjusted dosage) substantially reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures from baseline in a dose-dependent manner; systolic and diastolic blood pressures were, on average, 3.2 and 2.8 mm Hg lower, respectively, in patients receiving olmesartan than in those receiving placebo.

Similar to that observed in the adult population, smaller blood pressure reductions were observed in the black compared with the predominantly nonblack pediatric patient cohort. The same pediatric study also included 59 patients who were 1-5 years of age; treatment with olmesartan medoxomil (0.3 mg/kg once daily) in this age group did not result in a statistically significant reduction in blood pressure compared with placebo. Adverse effects reported in the pediatric patients evaluated in this study generally were similar to those observed in adults.

Pharmacokinetics of olmesartan have been evaluated in pediatric patients 1-16 years of age; clearance of the drug (adjusted for body weight) in these pediatric patients was similar to that observed in adults. The manufacturer states that olmesartan has not been shown to be effective for hypertension in patients younger than 6 years of age. Olmesartan has not been evaluated in infants younger than 1 year of age; because of the possibility of abnormal kidney development, the drug must not be used in this age group.

Safety and efficacy of olmesartan in fixed combination with hydrochlorothiazide and/or amlodipine in pediatric patients have not been established. For information on overall principles and expert recommendations for treatment of hypertension in pediatric patients, see Uses: Hypertension in Pediatric Patients, in the Thiazides General Statement 40:28.20.

Safety and efficacy of amlodipine in children younger than 6 years of age have not been established. Efficacy of amlodipine (2.5-5 mg daily) for the treatment of hypertension has been established in pediatric patients 6-17 years of age. Safety and efficacy of amlodipine in fixed combination with atorvastatin, benazepril, olmesartan (with or without hydrochlorothiazide), perindopril, telmisartan, or valsartan (with or without hydrochlorothiazide) have not been established in children.

Contraindicated

None

Severe Precaution

None

Management or Monitoring Precaution

None