scholarly journals Drug interactions: a review of the unseen danger of experimental COVID-19 therapies

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (12) ◽  
pp. 3417-3424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Hodge ◽  
Fiona Marra ◽  
Catia Marzolini ◽  
Alison Boyle ◽  
Sara Gibbons ◽  
...  

Abstract As global health services respond to the coronavirus pandemic, many prescribers are turning to experimental drugs. This review aims to assess the risk of drug–drug interactions in the severely ill COVID-19 patient. Experimental therapies were identified by searching ClinicalTrials.gov for ‘COVID-19’, ‘2019-nCoV’, ‘2019 novel coronavirus’ and ‘SARS-CoV-2’. The last search was performed on 30 June 2020. Herbal medicines, blood-derived products and in vitro studies were excluded. We identified comorbidities by searching PubMed for the MeSH terms ‘COVID-19’, ‘Comorbidity’ and ‘Epidemiological Factors’. Potential drug–drug interactions were evaluated according to known pharmacokinetics, overlapping toxicities and QT risk. Drug–drug interactions were graded GREEN and YELLOW: no clinically significant interaction; AMBER: caution; RED: serious risk. A total of 2378 records were retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov, which yielded 249 drugs that met inclusion criteria. Thirteen primary compounds were screened against 512 comedications. A full database of these interactions is available at www.covid19-druginteractions.org. Experimental therapies for COVID-19 present a risk of drug–drug interactions, with lopinavir/ritonavir (10% RED, 41% AMBER; mainly a perpetrator of pharmacokinetic interactions but also risk of QT prolongation particularly when given with concomitant drugs that can prolong QT), chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine (both 7% RED and 27% AMBER, victims of some interactions due to metabolic profile but also perpetrators of QT prolongation) posing the greatest risk. With management, these risks can be mitigated. We have published a drug–drug interaction resource to facilitate medication review for the critically ill patient.

Author(s):  
Nurliana Abd Mutalib ◽  
Mohd Amirul Ariffin Mohd Rafi ◽  
Normala Abd Latip

Drug-drug interactions (DDI) are the most common cases that occur in our healthcare in which are very alarming as it may lead to severe complications. Consumption of natural products concomitantly with conventional drugs or treatment using polypharmacy have become the norm that promoting the potential of pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic drug interactions as the combination may mimic, increase or reduce the effects of the drug or the herb which could result in clinically significant interactions. CYP2C9 is the second major isoform from CYP450 family of enzyme, which responsible in phase 1 metabolism of 15-20% clinical drugs. Up to date, many substrates of CYP2C9 have been discovered and these discoveries may open more doors for potential drug-drug interactions in patients. Many studies have been done to evaluate the effect of drugs on the activity of CYP2C9 and how it influenced the effectiveness of therapy in patients. Various data regarding CYP2C9 related DDI from in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies were critically discussed in this review to provide insights on how these drugs and natural products may exhibit drug interactions clinically. This review could be beneficial reference material for health practitioners and researchers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (01) ◽  
pp. 57-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Heng Pao ◽  
Oliver Yoa-Pu Hu ◽  
Hsien-Yuan Fan ◽  
Chang-Ching Lin ◽  
Liang-Chun Liu ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal medicines on the enzymatic activity of CYP3A4 and the possible metabolism-based herb-drug interactions in human liver microsomes and in rats. Fifty single-herbal preparations were screened for the activity of CYP3A4 using human liver microsomes for an in vitro probe reaction study. The enzymatic activity of CYP3A4 was estimated by determing the 6β-hydroxytestosterone metabolized from testosterone performed on a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Geprgi), Mu Dan Pi (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.), Ji Shiee Terng (Spatholobus suberectus Dunn.) and Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceus [Fisch] Bge) have been demonstrated to have remarkable inhibiting effects on the metabolism of CYP3A4, whereas Xi Yi Hua (Magnolia biondii Pamp.) exhibited a moderate inhibition. These five single herbs were further investigated in an animal study using midazolam. Mu Dan Pi, Ji Shiee Terng and Huang Qi were observed to have greatly increased in the C max and AUC of midazolam. This study provides evidence of possible herb-drug interactions involved with certain single herbs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 5036-5046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Hyeon Bae ◽  
Min Jo Kwon ◽  
Jung Bae Park ◽  
Doyun Kim ◽  
Dong-Hee Kim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMacrolactin A (MA) and 7-O-succinyl macrolactin A (SMA), polyene macrolides containing a 24-membered lactone ring, show antibiotic effects superior to those of teicoplanin against vancomycin-resistant enterococci and methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus. MA and SMA are currently being evaluated as antitumor agents in preclinical studies in Korea. We evaluated the potential of MA and SMA for the inhibition or induction of human liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs)in vitroto assess their safety as new molecular entities. We demonstrated that MA and SMA are potent competitive inhibitors of CYP2C9, withKivalues of 4.06 μM and 10.6 μM, respectively. MA and SMA also weakly inhibited UGT1A1 activity, withKivalues of 40.1 μM and 65.3 μM, respectively. However, these macrolactins showed no time-dependent inactivation of the nine CYPs studied. In addition, MA and SMA did not induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6, or CYP3A4/5. On the basis of anin vitro-in vivoextrapolation, our data strongly suggested that MA and SMA are unlikely to cause clinically significant drug-drug interactions mediated via inhibition or induction of most of the CYPs involved in drug metabolismin vivo, except for the inhibition of CYP2C9 by MA. Similarly, MA and SMA are unlikely to inhibit the activity of UGT1A1, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, and UGT2B7 enzymesin vivo. Although further investigations will be required to clarify thein vivointeractions of MA with CYP2C9-targeted drugs, our findings offer a clearer understanding and prediction of drug-drug interactions for the safe use of MA and SMA in clinical practice.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Nourhan Hisham Shady ◽  
Khayrya A. Youssif ◽  
Ahmed M. Sayed ◽  
Lassaad Belbahri ◽  
Tomasz Oszako ◽  
...  

The acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused severe panic all over the world. The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has already brought massive human suffering and major economic disruption and unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 so far. Herbal medicines and purified natural products can provide a rich resource for novel antiviral drugs. Therefore, in this review, we focused on the sterols and triterpenes as potential candidates derived from natural sources with well-reported in vitro efficacy against numerous types of viruses. Moreover, we compiled from these reviewed compounds a library of 162 sterols and triterpenes that was subjected to a computer-aided virtual screening against the active sites of the recently reported SARS-CoV-2 protein targets. Interestingly, the results suggested some compounds as potential drug candidates for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Weiss

Samento (extract from Uncaria tomentosa) and Banderol (extract from Otoba parvifolia) have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, e.g., against different morphological forms of Borrelia burgdorferi. However, there is hardly any data on the pharmacological safety of these two herbal medicines. This in vitro study aimed at scrutinizing their possible characteristics as perpetrators in pharmacokinetic herbal–drug interactions. Inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) was quantified by commercial kits and inhibition of drug transporters by use of fluorescent probe substrates. Induction was quantified by real-time RT-PCR and activation of pregnane x receptor (PXR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by reporter gene assays. Organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) (IC50 = 0.49 ± 0.28%) and OATP1B3 (IC50 = 0.65 ± 0.29%) were potently inhibited by Banderol, but only weakly by Samento. CYP3A4 was inhibited about 40% at a Samento concentration of 1%. Samento significantly induced mRNA expression of CYP2J2, UGT1A3, UGT1A9, ABCB1, and SLCO1B1 and strongly activated PXR, but hardly AhR. In conclusion, the perpetrator profiles of Samento and Banderol for herb–drug interactions completely differ. Clinical studies are strongly recommended to clarify whether the effects observed in vitro are of clinical relevance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanelle M. Ajimura ◽  
Nikhil Jagan ◽  
Lee E. Morrow ◽  
Mark A. Malesker

Objective: To evaluate the potential for drug interactions with oral inhaled medications (OIMs). OIMs include bronchodilators (β-agonists and antimuscarinics), corticosteroids, combination products (2 or more agents combined within a single inhalation device), antibiotics, prostacyclins, anesthetics, acetylcysteine, mucolytics, insulin, antivirals, nitric oxide, and nicotine replacement. Data Sources: A systemic literature search (1980 to May 2018) was performed using PubMed and EBSCO to locate relevant articles. The MESH terms used included each specific medication available as an OIM as well as “drug interactions.” DAILYMED was used for product-specific drug interactions. Study Selection and Data Extraction: The search was conducted to identify drug interactions with OIMs. The search was limited to those articles studying human applications with OIMs and publications using the English language. Case reports, clinical trials, review articles, treatment guidelines, and package labeling were selected for inclusion. Data Synthesis: Primary literature and package labeling indicate that OIMs are subject to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics interactions. The most frequently identified clinically significant drug interaction is an inhaled corticosteroid when combined with a potent CYP 450 inhibitor such as a protease inhibitor or antifungal. Conclusions: The available literature indicates that OIMs are associated with clinically significant drug interactions and subsequent adverse reactions. Clinicians in all practice settings should be mindful of this potential to minimize adverse effects and optimize therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 219-230
Author(s):  
Radhwan Nidal Al-Zidan

At the end of 2019, the whole world was witnessing the birth of a new member of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) family in Wuhan city, China. Since then, the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has rapidly invaded every corner of the world. Before the end of September 2020, nearly 32 million cases worldwide were recorded, with a death toll of approximately 1 million cases. As COVID-19 has spread across the world, certain groups of people prove more susceptible than others. Elderly patients and people with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes are more likely to experience or even suffer from serious diseases. As a population, senior citizens take more medicines than young people. Similarly, people with chronic illnesses who are several taking drugs to control their illness. All this poses a significant query in managing COVID-19 cases: can a standard drug regimen be paired with one or more experimental drugs? For example, some of the most widely prescribed medicines—including antibacterial drugs, antifungals, heart-related medications, neuroleptics, contraceptives, and sedatives —can have extensive and often even severe interactions with some of the experimental COVID-19 therapy. Therefore, to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate associated with COVID-19, this issue needs to be answered in detail. This review addressed the key points related to the drug-drug and drug-disease interaction in patients with COVID-19. To help health care providers locate the answers they need in the shortest possible time, the information contained in this review has been included in easy-to-read tables. Keywords:  Drug interactions; DDIs; Polypharmacy; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19.


Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Rombolà ◽  
Damiana Scuteri ◽  
Straface Marilisa ◽  
Chizuko Watanabe ◽  
Luigi Antonio Morrone ◽  
...  

The therapeutic efficacy of a drug or its unexpected unwanted side effects may depend on the concurrent use of a medicinal plant. In particular, constituents in the medicinal plant extracts may influence drug bioavailability, metabolism and half-life, leading to drug toxicity or failure to obtain a therapeutic response. This narrative review focuses on clinical studies improving knowledge on the ability of selected herbal medicines to influence the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs. Moreover, in vitro studies are useful to anticipate potential herbal medicine-drug interactions. In particular, they help to elucidate the cellular target (metabolic or transporter protein) and the mechanism (induction or inhibition) by which a single constituent of the herbal medicine acts. The authors highlight the difficulties in predicting herbal–drug interactions from in vitro data where high concentrations of extracts or their constituents are used and pharmacokinetics are missed. Moreover, the difficulty to compare results from human studies where different kinds of herbal extracts are used is discussed. The herbal medicines discussed are among the best sellers and they are reported in the “Herbal Medicines for Human Use” section of the European Medicinal Agency (EMA).


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