Orserdu interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Orserdu, 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 Orserdu interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Orserdu and other interactions” section below.)

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 Orserdu. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Orserdu. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in-depth.”

* For details about this interaction, see the “Drug interactions in-depth” section below.
† To learn about Orserdu’s side effects, see this article.

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

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

• nausea
• vomiting
• headache
• diarrhea
• dizziness

In addition, consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Orserdu may also cause liver problems as a side effect. This means that drinking alcohol during Orserdu treatment may increase the risk of liver problems.

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

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

Certain antifungals

Orserdu can interact with certain antifungals, which are drugs for treating fungal infections.

Interaction result: Taking Orserdu with certain antifungals can increase the risk of Orserdu side effects.

Interaction explained: Certain antifungal drugs can reduce the action of an enzyme (a type of protein) in your body called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). This enzyme helps break down Orserdu. By reducing CYP3A4 action, these antifungals can cause Orserdu to build up in your body. In turn, this raises the risk of side effects from Orserdu.

Examples of antifungal drugs: Here are some antifungal drugs that may interact with Orserdu:

• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• itraconazole (Sporanox)
• ketoconazole
• voriconazole (Vfend)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor will likely avoid prescribing these antifungals with Orserdu. If you have a fungal infection while taking Orserdu, your doctor will likely prescribe an antifungal that doesn’t affect CYP3A4.

If you need to take one of these antifungals with Orserdu, your doctor will likely lower your Orserdu dosage while you’re taking both drugs. Do not take a higher dose of either drug than your doctor prescribes. And tell your doctor if you have any new or increased side effects from Orserdu. (To learn about Orserdu’s side effects, see this article.)

Certain seizure medications

Orserdu can interact with certain seizure medications, which are prescribed to treat seizure disorders such as epilepsy. Some seizure medications may also be prescribed for bipolar disorder or certain types of nerve pain.

Interaction result: Taking Orserdu with certain seizure medications can make Orserdu less effective.

Interaction explained: Some seizure medications can speed up the action of an enzyme in your body called CYP3A4. This enzyme helps break down Orserdu. By speeding up the action of CYP3A4, these seizure medications can lower the amount of Orserdu in your body. This can make it less effective for treating breast cancer. (Orserdu is approved to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancer in specific situations.)

Examples of seizure medications: Here are some seizure medications that may interact with Orserdu:

• carbamazepine (Tegretol, others)
• cenobamate (Xcopri)
• phenobarbital
• phenytoin (Dilantin)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor will likely avoid prescribing Orserdu with these seizure medications. If you take one of these medications, your doctor may recommend switching to a different treatment before you start Orserdu. Talk with your doctor about your options.

Digoxin

Orserdu can interact with digoxin (Lanoxin), a medication prescribed to treat certain heart conditions, including heart failure and irregular heart rhythm.

Interaction result: Taking Orserdu with digoxin can increase the risk of digoxin side effects.

Interaction explained: Orserdu can reduce the action of a protein in your body called P-glycoprotein (P-gp). P-gp helps remove digoxin from your body. By reducing the action of P-gp, Orserdu can cause digoxin to build up. This can raise your risk of digoxin side effects.

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Orserdu with digoxin, they may reduce your digoxin dosage. Do not take a higher dose of either drug than your doctor prescribes. And tell your doctor if you have any new or increased digoxin side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, changes in vision, and rash.

Orserdu may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Orserdu.

Orserdu interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Orserdu, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

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

Orserdu interactions with herbs

Doctors will typically recommend you avoid taking St. John’s wort with Orserdu. St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that some people take to help treat depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort may speed up the activity of CYP3A4 in your body. This enzyme helps break down Orserdu. (For details about this, see “Drug interactions in-depth” above.)

By speeding up this enzyme, St. John’s wort can cause Orserdu to break down more quickly. This may lead to a low level of Orserdu in your system. If the level of Orserdu in your system is too low, the drug may not work to treat breast cancer.

Your doctor may be able to suggest a treatment option other than St. John’s wort.

Orserdu and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Orserdu. 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 Orserdu.

Orserdu interactions with food

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with Orserdu. Specifically, grapefruit products can stop your body from breaking down Orserdu. This raises the level of Orserdu in your body, which increases your risk of side effects from Orserdu.

Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend not consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking the drug. To learn about Orserdu’s side effects, see this article.

Orserdu and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Orserdu and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Orserdu and lab tests

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

ORSERDU INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Orserdu. However, they might interact with this medication.

Cannabis and cannabis products can affect certain enzymes that help break down Orserdu. So they might affect the level of Orserdu in your body.

As with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Orserdu. The effects of cannabis may also affect how well you stick to your Orserdu treatment plan.

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

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

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Orserdu include:

• Liver problems: Your liver helps remove Orserdu from your body. If you have a liver condition, Orserdu could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of experiencing its side effects. Due to this risk, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of Orserdu that’s lower than usual. But if you have a severe liver problem, your doctor will likely not prescribe Orserdu. You can ask them about other treatment options that may be safer for you.
• High cholesterol or triglycerides: Orserdu can increase the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. If you already have high cholesterol or triglycerides, talk with your doctor about whether Orserdu is right for you.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Orserdu or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Orserdu. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: You should not breastfeed while taking Orserdu and for 1 week after your last dose. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before taking Orserdu. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: Orserdu is not safe to take while pregnant. The drug can cause harm to a fetus. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Orserdu. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you. If you can become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Orserdu and for 1 week after stopping treatment. If you’re male* and you have a sexual partner who can become pregnant, you should use condoms while taking Orserdu and for 1 week after your last dose.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “male“ and “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Orserdu. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to 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 Orserdu 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 Orserdu doesn’t come with 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 Orserdu by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Orserdu. These resources might help:

• Overview of Orserdu: For a general overview of Orserdu, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Orserdu, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Orserdu prescribing information.
• Facts about metastatic breast cancer: To learn more, you can take a deeper look at metastatic breast cancer.

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.