Velsipity interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Velsipity, 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 Velsipity interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Velsipity 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 Velsipity. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Velsipity. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Velsipity due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Velsipity include:

Having certain cardiovascular problems in the past 6 months

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Velsipity for people who have had certain cardiovascular problems in the past 6 months. These problems include:

• heart attack
• unstable angina (chest pain that happens when resting)
• severe heart failure or heart failure needing treatment in hospital
• stroke
• transient ischemic attack (also called a ministroke)

When you start treatment with Velsipity, the drug can temporarily slow down your heart rate and cause problems with the electrical signaling in your heart. These side effects can be dangerous if you’ve had a serious cardiovascular problem in the past 6 months.

If you’ve had one of these problems, talk with your doctor before taking Velsipity. They’ll likely prescribe a treatment other than Velsipity for your condition.

Having certain electrical problems in your heart

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Velsipity if you have certain problems with the electrical signaling in your heart. If you have a history of the problems listed below, your doctor typically won’t prescribe Velsipity unless these problems are managed with a pacemaker:

• sick sinus syndrome
• certain types of heart block (second- or third-degree AV block or sino-atrial block)

When you start treatment with Velsipity, the drug can temporarily slow down your heart rate and cause problems with the electrical signaling in your heart. If you have a history of sick sinus syndrome or heart block and these problems aren’t managed with a pacemaker, these side effects can cause dangerous problems with your heart.

If you have unmanaged problems with the electrical signaling in your heart, talk with your doctor before taking Velsipity. They’ll likely prescribe a treatment other than Velsipity for your condition.

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

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Velsipity’s side effects. For example, you may experience a headache or dizziness. If you consume alcohol during Velsipity treatment, these side effects may be more likely to occur.

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

Alcohol can also worsen the condition you’re receiving Velsipity to treat. For example, if you have ulcerative colitis, drinking alcohol may worsen your symptoms.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Velsipity, talk with your doctor.

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

Drugs that can cause long QT syndrome

Velsipity can interact with certain drugs that can cause a side effect called long QT syndrome, which is a type of abnormal heart rhythm. Types of drugs that may cause this side effect include antiarrhythmics (drugs for abnormal heart rhythms), certain antipsychotics and antidepressants, and certain antibiotics.

Interaction result: Taking Velsipity with drugs that can cause long QT syndrome can raise your risk of dangerous abnormal heart rhythms.

Interaction explained: When you start treatment with Velsipity, the drug can temporarily slow down your heart rate and cause problems with the electrical signaling in your heart. If you take Velsipity with drugs that can cause long QT syndrome, these side effects of Velsipity can raise your risk of developing long QT syndrome. Long QT syndrome can cause serious and sometimes life threatening abnormal heart rhythms.

Examples of drugs that can cause long QT syndrome: Here are some drugs that can cause long QT syndrome that may interact with Velsipity:

• antiarrhythmics, such as:
  • amiodarone (Pacerone)
  • procainamide
  • quinidine
  • sotalol (Betapace, others)
• certain antibiotics, such as:
  • azithromycin (Zithromax)
  • clarithromycin
  • moxifloxacin (Avelox)
• certain antidepressants, such as:
  • citalopram (Celexa)
  • escitalopram (Lexapro)
• certain antipsychotics, such as:
  • aripiprazole (Abilify)
  • haloperidol (Haldol)
  • risperidone (Risperdal)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If you take a drug that can cause long QT syndrome, your doctor will likely want you to talk with a cardiologist before they prescribe Velsipity. A cardiologist can check your heart rhythm and determine whether Velsipity is safe for you. If you can take Velsipity, your doctor will likely monitor your heart when you start treatment.

If you have symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm when taking Velsipity with a drug that can cause long QT syndrome, contact your doctor right away. These symptoms may include feeling dizzy or lightheaded, fainting, or feeling as though your heart is pounding, racing, or skipping beats.

If you have questions about taking Velsipity with drugs that can cause long QT syndrome, talk with your doctor.

Certain antifungals

Velsipity can interact with certain antifungals, which are drugs that treat fungal or yeast infections.

Interaction result: Taking certain antifungals with Velsipity can increase your risk of side effects from Velsipity.*

Interaction explained: Two enzymes in your body called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) help break down Velsipity. Certain antifungals can reduce the action of one or both of these enzymes.

Taking an antifungal that reduces the action of both these enzymes can raise the level of Velsipity in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects from Velsipity.

Some people have an inherited problem that reduces the action of CYP2C9. If you have this problem, taking an antifungal that reduces the action of CYP3A4 can cause Velsipity to build up in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects from Velsipity.

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

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

Steps you or your doctor may take: While you’re taking Velsipity, your doctor will likely avoid prescribing fluconazole for you. In some cases, they may also avoid prescribing certain other antifungals. If you need treatment for a fungal infection, you can talk with your doctor about other antifungals that may be better options for you.

If you do take one of these antifungals with Velsipity, tell your doctor if you have any new or worsened side effects from Velsipity.

If you have questions about taking Velsipity with an antifungal, talk with your doctor.

* For details about Velsipity’s side effects, see this article.

Drugs that weaken the immune system

Velsipity can interact with drugs that weaken your immune system. These drugs include immunosuppressants and immunomodulators. They are prescribed for many conditions, including autoimmune conditions such as ulcerative colitis. Certain cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, can also weaken your immune system.

Interaction result: Taking Velsipity with drugs that weaken your immune system can raise your risk of infections, including serious and sometimes life threatening infections.

Interaction explained: Velsipity reduces the number of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in your blood. Lymphocytes help your immune system fight infections. Drugs that weaken your immune system may reduce your blood levels of lymphocytes or other types of white blood cells. Or they may reduce activity in other parts of your immune system. So taking Velsipity with one of these drugs can have a combined effect that makes it harder for your immune system to fight infections.

Examples of drugs that weaken the immune system: Here are some immune system-weakening drugs that may interact with Velsipity:

• adalimumab (Humira)
• azathioprine (Imuran)
• infliximab (Remicade)
• methotrexate (Trexall, others)
• tofacitinib (Xeljanz)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor will likely avoid prescribing Velsipity with drugs that weaken your immune system. If you’ve recently had treatment with a drug that weakens your immune system, your doctor may wait until your immune system recovers before prescribing Velsipity.

If you take Velsipity with a drug that weakens your immune system, contact your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of an infection. These can include fever, cough, flu-like symptoms, skin sores or a rash, and pain when urinating.

After you stop taking Velsipity, your doctor will likely avoid prescribing drugs that weaken your immune system for about 4–5 weeks. This is how long it may take for your lymphocytes to return to a typical level after stopping Velsipity.

If you have questions about taking Velsipity with drugs that weaken your immune system, talk with your doctor.

Velsipity 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 Velsipity.

Velsipity and supplements

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

Velsipity and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Velsipity. However, St. John’s wort might interact with Velsipity. St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that some people take to help treat depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort can increase the action of one of the enzymes in your body that helps break down Velsipity. So it may cause Velsipity to be cleared from your system more quickly. This could make Velsipity less effective at treating ulcerative colitis.

Other herbal interactions may also 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 Velsipity treatment.

Velsipity and vitamins

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

Velsipity and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Velsipity. However, grapefruit and grapefruit juice might interact with Velsipity in some people.

Grapefruit can reduce the action of an enzyme in your body called CYP3A4. CYP3A4 is one of the enzymes that helps break down Velsipity. Other enzymes that break down Velsipity are called CYP2C8 and CYP2C9. By reducing the action of CYP3A4, grapefruit might slightly raise the level of Velsipity in your body. This typically isn’t a problem for most people.

However, some people have an inherited problem that reduces the action of CYP2C9. If you have this problem and you consume grapefruit, the actions of both CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 will be reduced. This can cause Velsipity to build up in your body, which can increase your risk of side effects from Velsipity.* Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend not consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking the drug.

If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Velsipity, talk with your doctor.

* For details about Velsipity’s side effects, see this article.

Velsipity interactions with vaccines

Velsipity is known to interact with 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 functioning effectively, live vaccines typically won’t cause infection.

But Velsipity works by weakening part of your immune system. So 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 unwell or develop symptoms of the illness the vaccine is meant to prevent.

You should not start Velsipity for at least 4 weeks after getting a live vaccine. And you should not get live vaccines during Velsipity treatment and for 5 weeks after stopping Velsipity.

Examples of live vaccines include:

• measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• chickenpox
• flu vaccine (nasal spray form)

Velsipity interactions with lab tests

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

VELSIPITY DRUG INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Velsipity. However, cannabis and cannabis products can affect the action of certain enzymes in your body that help break down Velsipity. So they might affect this medication.

As with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Velsipity. The effects of cannabis may also affect how well you stick to your Velsipity 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 Velsipity. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Velsipity 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 Velsipity include:

• Liver problems: Your liver helps break down Velsipity and clear it from your body. If you have liver problems, Velsipity can build up in your body. This can raise your risk of experiencing Velsipity’s side effects, including worsening of your liver problem. Velsipity isn’t recommended for people with severe liver problems. If you have liver problems, talk with your doctor about whether Velsipity is right for you.
• Infections: Taking Velsipity can make it harder for your body to fight infections. Before starting Velsipity, tell your doctor if you have an active infection or any infections that keep coming back. Also, talk with your doctor about your immunization history. Before you start Velsipity, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat any infections you have. They may also recommend getting certain vaccines before you start treatment with Velsipity.
• Cardiovascular problems: Velsipity can cause certain cardiovascular problems. If you already have a cardiovascular problem, talk with your doctor about whether Velsipity is safe for you. Cardiovascular problems include heart disease, a slow or irregular heart rate, high blood pressure, and a history of fainting. If you have a serious electrical problem with your heart or you’ve had certain serious cardiovascular problems in the past 6 months, your doctor will likely not prescribe Velsipity. See the “When to avoid Velsipity” section above for more information.
• Lung or breathing problems: If you have a lung condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Velsipity can worsen your condition. If you have sleep apnea, you may have a raised risk of heart problems with Velsipity. Talk with your doctor about whether Velsipity is right for you.
• Skin cancer: Velsipity can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. If you have a history of skin cancer, talk with your doctor about whether Velsipity is safe for you.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Velsipity or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Velsipity. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Velsipity while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Velsipity may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before taking Velsipity. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: Velsipity is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Velsipity. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you. If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Velsipity and for 1 week after stopping treatment.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Velsipity. 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 Velsipity 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 Velsipity 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 Velsipity by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

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

• Overview of Velsipity: For a general overview of Velsipity, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Velsipity, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Velsipity prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics: To learn about the dosage of Velsipity, see this article.
• Facts about ulcerative colitis: To learn more about your condition, see our ulcerative colitis hub.

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.