Ga Gel (nutritional therapy, glutaric aciduria type 1)

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Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient.

Tryptophan/Mao Inhibitors

SEVERITY LEVEL: 1-Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Concurrent use may result in additive effects on serotonin levels. MAOIs may potentiate the effects of tryptophan.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent administration of tryptophan with a MAO Inhibitor may result in serotonin syndrome and/or hypertensive crisis.(1) Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include tremor, agitation, diaphoresis, hyperreflexia, clonus, tachycardia, hyperthermia, and muscle rigidity.(15) In addition to these effects, disorientation, delirium, agitation, hypomania, shivering, ocular oscillation, and Babinski signs have been reported with concurrent tryptophan and phenelzine.(1)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving MAO Inhibitors should not take agents such as tryptophan. If concurrent therapy is warranted, patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome. Instruct patients to report muscle twitching, tremors, shivering and stiffness, fever, heavy sweating, heart palpitations, restlessness, confusion, agitation, trouble with coordination, or severe diarrhea.

DISCUSSION: In a study in nine subjects, the administration of a single intravenous dose of tryptophan with tranylcypromine significantly increased the normal prolactin response to tryptophan. Four of the nine subjects developed a distinctive neuromotor syndrome characterized by hyperreflexia, ankle clonus, nystagmus, incoordination, tremor, myoclonic jerks, and nausea.(2) Another set of authors reported eight cases of delirium, ranging from mild to severe, in patients who received concurrent tranylcypromine and tryptophan. Symptoms developed within two days to 4 weeks of beginning concurrent therapy.(3) In a case report, the addition of tryptophan to a tranylcypromine regimen resulted in hypomania.(4) In another report, a patient developed hyperventilation, shivering, hyperthermia, increased muscle tone, and hyperreflexia when tryptophan was added to tranylcypromine therapy.(5) There are two reports of fatalities following the concurrent administration of tryptophan and tranylcypromine. In the first report, a a patient had been receiving chlorpromazine, lithium, and tryptophan when phenelzine was initiated. Four weeks later, the patient developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome and expired despite resuscitation efforts.(6) In the second report, a patient had been receiving fluoxetine, levothyroxine, propranolol, quinidine, and hydroxyzine. Fluoxetine was discontinued and tranylcypromine, thioridazine, and tryptophan were initiated. The patient developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome two and one-half hours after the first tryptophan dose and expired 24 hours later. (7) In a case report, the addition of tryptophan to a regimen that included phenelzine resulted in an acute behavioral and neurologic syndrome. The patient's symptoms resolved 24 hours after the discontinuation of both agents.(8) In another report, a patient developed hypomania following the addition of tryptophan to phenelzine therapy.(4) Another report describes the development of delirium following the addition of tryptophan to phenelzine.(9) One set of authors reported three cases of myoclonus, hyperreflexia, and diaphoresis following the addition of tryptophan to phenelzine therapy.(10) Some studies have shown that the addition of tryptophan to MAO Inhibitor therapy may have beneficial results, including greater improvement in depression and faster onset of effects.(11,12) Methylene blue, when administered intravenously, has been shown to reach sufficient concentrations to be a potent inhibitor of MAO-A.(13,14) Metaxalone is a weak inhibitor of MAO.(16,17)

Tryptophan/Sibutramine

SEVERITY LEVEL: 1-Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Concurrent administration may result in additive effects on serotonin, resulting in serotonin syndrome.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use of sibutramine and tryptophan may result in serotonin syndrome, a serious and potentially fatal reaction. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include tremor, agitation, diaphoresis, hyperreflexia, clonus, tachycardia, hyperthermia, and muscle rigidity.(1,3)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Sibutramine has been removed from the market by the European Medicines Agency and by regulatory agencies in a number of countries including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States. The UK manufacturer of sibutramine formerly stated that sibutramine should not be administered with other drugs that raise serotonin levels in the brain, such as tryptophan.(2) The US manufacturer of sibutramine formerly stated that in general, sibutramine should not be administered with other serotonergic agents such as tryptophan. However, if concurrent administration is clinically indicated, the patient should be appropriately observed.(1) If concurrent therapy is warranted, patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome. Instruct patients to report muscle twitching, tremors, shivering and stiffness, fever, heavy sweating, heart palpitations, restlessness, confusion, agitation, trouble with coordination, or severe diarrhea. Patients in whom serotonin syndrome is suspected should receive immediate medical attention.

DISCUSSION: Sibutramine has been removed from the market by the European Medicines Agency and by regulatory agencies in a number of countries including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States. There is no published documentation to support this interaction. Because sibutramine inhibits serotonin reuptake and serotonin syndrome has been reported during concomitant use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tryptophan, the UK manufacturer of sibutramine states that sibutramine should not be administered with tryptophan.(2)

Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

Aspartame; Phenylalanine; Tyrosine/Nitisinone

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Aspartame contains phenylalanine, which is metabolized into tyrosine. Nitisinone prevents the breakdown of tyrosine.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Elevated levels of tyrosine can cause vision changes (cornea ulcers, corneal opacities, keratitis, conjunctivitis, eye pain, and photophobia), skin problems (painful hyperkeratotic plaques on the soles and palms), and nervous system toxicity (variable degrees of mental retardation and developmental delay).

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving nitisinone should following dietary restrictions concerning the consumption of aspartame, phenylalanine, and tyrosine, including medications that contain these ingredients.(1)

DISCUSSION: In most patients, eye symptoms resulting from elevated tyrosine levels were transient, lasting less than one week; however, six patients had prolonged episodes lasting up to almost 2 years.(1)

There are no moderate interactions for this drug.

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There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.

There are no severe contraindications for this drug.

There are no moderate contraindications for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no severe adverse reactions for this drug.

There are no less severe adverse reactions for this drug.

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