Drug interactions

Delavirdine (Rescriptor) is an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 system, a metabolic pathway in the liver, which eliminates drugs from the body. Combining delavirdine with protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept) or saquinavir (Invirase) may result in elevated protease inhibitor concentrations in the blood.1

Patients taking delavirdine should not take the following drugs, due to dangerous changes in drug levels:

  • Astemizole.
  • Alprazolam (Xanax).
  • Amiodarone (Cordarone X).
  • Carbamazepine (Tegretol / Carbagen / Tegretol Retard / Teril Retard / Timonil Retard).
  • Cisapride.
  • Ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot / Migril).
  • Hypericin (St John’s wort).
  • Lovastatin.
  • Midazolam (Hypnovel).
  • Phenobarbital.
  • Phenytoin (Epanutin).
  • Pimozide (Orap).
  • Quinidine (Kinidin Dureles).
  • Rifabutin (Mycobutin).2
  • Rifampicin (Rifadin / Rimactane).
  • Simvastatin (Zocor).
  • Terfenadine.
  • Triazolam.

References

  1. Fletcher CV et al. Competing drug-drug interactions among multidrug antiretroviral regimens used in the treatment of HIV-infected subjects: ACTG 884. AIDS 14: 2495-2501, 2000
  2. Borin MT et al. Pharmacokinetic study of the interaction between rifabutin and delavirdine mesylate in HIV-infected patients. Antivir Res 35: 53-63, 1997
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