Alecensa interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Alecensa interactions with other medications  

Before you start treatment with Alecensa, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Alecensa interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Alecensa and other interactions” section.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Alecensa. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Alecensa. Some of these interactions are described in detail in “Drug interactions in depth.”

Alecensa interaction with alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between Alecensa and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Alecensa treatment.

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Alecensa’s side effects. For example, you may experience:

• nausea
• vomiting
• headache
• fatigue

Consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Alecensa may also cause liver damage as a side effect. This means that drinking alcohol during Alecensa treatment may increase the risk of liver problems.

If you consume alcohol during Alecensa treatment, these side effects may be more likely to occur. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Alecensa, talk with your doctor.

Drug interactions in depth

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Alecensa.

Drugs that slow heart rate

Certain heart medications work by slowing down your heart rate. These medications may be used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), irregular heartbeat, and heart failure.

Interaction result: Taking Alecensa with drugs that slow heart rate can cause it to slow down too much.

Interaction explained: Alecensa can sometimes cause a slow heart rate. Taking it with other drugs that slow your heart rate could cause it to slow down too much. This can cause symptoms such as weakness, shortness of breath, or dizziness. If your heart rate slows down too much, this can be dangerous or even life threatening.

Examples of drugs that slow heart rate: The following heart rate slowing drugs may interact with Alecensa:

• beta-blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and propranolol (Inderal LA and Inderal XL)
• diltiazem (Cardizem CD, others)
• ivabradine (Coralan)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If you take Alecensa with other drugs that can slow your heart rate, your doctor will frequently check your heart rate and blood pressure. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of a slow heart rate, such as weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.

If your heart rate gets too slow, your doctor may lower your dosage of Alecensa or the other medication. If needed, they may have you stop taking either medication.

If you have questions about taking Alecensa with heart rate slowing medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

P-gp substrates

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a protein that transports and helps clear certain drugs from your body. Drugs that are transported by the P-gp protein are called P-gp substrates.

Interaction result: Taking Alecensa with drugs that are P-gp substrates may increase the risk of side effects from the P-gp substrate.

Interaction explained: Alecensa may reduce the action of P-gp. Taking Alecensa with a P-gp substrate may stop the P-gp substrate being cleared from your body as well as usual. This could result in the P-gp substrate building up in your body and raise your risk of its side effects.

Examples of drugs that are P-gp substrates: The following P-gp substrates may interact with Alecensa:

• the blood thinner dabigatran (Pradaxa)
• the heart medication digoxin (Lanoxin)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before taking Alecensa, be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you take. Your doctor can check whether any of your medications are P-gp substrates. If your doctor prescribes Alecensa with a P-gp substrate, they’ll likely monitor you more closely.

For example, if you take Alecensa with digoxin, your doctor may order more frequent blood tests to check your digoxin levels. If you take Alecensa with dabigatran, your doctor will likely ask you to watch for dabigatran side effects, such as bruising or bleeding.

If your doctor thinks Alecensa is affecting the P-gp substrate you take, they may reduce your dosage of the P-gp substrate.

If you have questions about taking Alecensa with P-gp substrates, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

BCRP substrates

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is another protein that helps transport and clear certain drugs from your body. Drugs that are transported by the BCRP protein are called BCRP substrates.

Interaction result: Taking Alecensa with drugs that are BCRP substrates may increase the risk of side effects from the BCRP substrate.

Interaction explained: Alecensa may reduce the action of BCRP. So taking Alecensa with a BCRP substrate may stop the BCRP substrate being cleared from your body as well as usual. As a result, the BCRP substrate could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of its side effects.

Examples of drugs that are BCRP substrates: The following BCRP substrates may interact with Alecensa:

• methotrexate (Trexall, others)
• mitoxantrone

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before taking Alecensa, be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you take. Your doctor can check whether any of your medications are BCRP substrates. If your doctor prescribes Alecensa with a BCRP substrate, your doctor will likely monitor you more closely for side effects of that drug.

If your doctor thinks Alecensa is affecting the BCRP substrate you take, they may reduce your dosage of the BCRP substrate.

If you have questions about taking Alecensa with BCRP substrates, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Alecensa and other interactions

Alecensa may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or lab tests. You’ll find details here. Keep in mind that the following information doesn’t include all other possible interactions with Alecensa.

Alecensa interactions with supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Alecensa and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Alecensa. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Alecensa treatment.

Alecensa and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Alecensa. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Alecensa.

Alecensa and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Alecensa. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Alecensa, talk with your doctor.

Alecensa and vaccines

Alecensa may interact with certain live vaccines. A live vaccine contains live but weakened pieces of the virus or bacterium it’s meant to defend against. When your immune system is healthy, live vaccines usually won’t cause infection.

Alecensa works by weakening your immune system. If you get a live vaccine, your immune system may not be able to fight the virus or bacterium. This may cause you to become sick or develop symptoms of the illness the vaccine is meant to prevent.

Examples of live vaccines to avoid during Alecensa treatment include:

• cholera
• COVID-19

Before starting Alecensa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any vaccines you may need.

Alecensa and lab tests

Alecensa isn’t known to interact with lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

ALECENSA INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Alecensa. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Alecensa. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Alecensa treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Alecensa and health-related interactions

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Alecensa. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Alecensa may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Alecensa include:

• Liver problems: Your liver helps clear Alecensa from your body. If you have a severe liver problem, your doctor will likely prescribe a dosage of Alecensa that’s lower than usual. Alecensa can also cause liver damage. If you already have a liver problem, Alecensa could make it worse. Your doctor will frequently check your liver function while you’re taking Alecensa. If your liver problem gets worse, your doctor may reduce your Alecensa dosage. But in some cases, you may need to stop taking the drug.
• Kidney problems: Alecensa can cause kidney problems. If you already have a kidney problem, Alecensa could make it worse. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function while you’re taking Alecensa. If your kidney problem gets worse, your doctor may reduce your Alecensa dosage. But in some cases, you may need to stop taking the drug.
• Slow heart rate: Alecensa can slow down your heart rate. If you already have a slow heart rate, Alecensa could make your heart rate dangerously slow. Your doctor will frequently check your heart rate and blood pressure while you’re taking Alecensa. If the drug affects your heart too much, your doctor may reduce your Alecensa dosage. But in some cases, you may need to stop taking the drug.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Alecensa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Alecensa. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: You should not breastfeed while taking Alecensa and for 1 week after your last dose. It’s not known whether Alecensa passes into breast milk. However, if it does, it may cause serious side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before using Alecensa. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: Alecensa is not safe to take while pregnant. Based on animal studies and the way the drug works, Alecensa may harm a developing fetus. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. If you can become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Alecensa and for 5 weeks after your last dose. If you’re male and have a sexual partner who can become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Alecensa and for 3 months after your last dose.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Alecensa. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so talk with them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Alecensa label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Alecensa doesn’t have paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Alecensa by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.