13th April 2003
BAD NEWS THERE IS INTERACTION!
CLONAZEPAM and FIORINAL (BUTALBITAL)
Severity: Major
Description: Taking a BARBITURATE and a BENZODIAZEPINE may cause problems with your breathing.
If you take a barbiturate and are also taking a benzodiazepine, you may have problems with your breathing. Some examples of barbiturates are aprobarbital (Alurate (R)), pentobarbital (Nembutal (R)), and primidone (Mysoline (R)). Some examples of benzodiazepines are alprazolam (Xanax (R)), diazepam (Valium (R)), midazolam (Versed (R)), and triazolam (Halcion (R)). If you are not sure if you are taking a barbiturate or a benzodiazepine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may want you to take both medicines. Your doctor may change the amounts of medicine you take. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have trouble breathing. 2. Very slow breathing. 3. You feel short of breath. 4. You have pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin.
TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH (ACETAMINOPHEN) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any products containing alcohol) while taking ACETAMINOPHEN (or any product containing acetaminophen) may result in a dangerous effect on your liver.
Drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen is not recommended. If you drink several glasses per day of alcohol, it is recommended that you avoid acetaminophen. If you are drinking several glasses per day of alcohol, are taking acetaminophen, and are experiencing decreased appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, chills, fevers, vomiting, yellow skin, itchy skin or rash, dark urine or dark colored stools contact your physician immediately.
FIORINAL (ASPIRIN) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any products containing alcohol) while taking ASPIRIN may result in losing blood out of your digestive tract.
Drinking alcohol while taking aspirin is not recommended. You should wait at least 12 hours after taking aspirin before drinking alcohol. Certain aspirin tablets that are called enteric coated or buffered are recommended if you will be drinking alcohol. If you are drinking alcohol while taking aspirin and are experiencing blood in your stool (dark or black stools or bright red blood in your stools), blood in your urine, or vomiting blood contact your physician immediately.
FIORINAL (BUTALBITAL) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or any product that contains alcohol) while being treated with BUTALBITAL may result in slowing down your nervous system
Drinking alcohol while being treated with butalbital is not recommended. If you are drinking alcohol while being treated with butalbital, you may experience loss of balance, slurred speech, confusion, changes in mental awareness, or dizziness. Use caution if you will be driving a car or operating machinery.
ALESSE 28 (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL) and FOOD (CAFFEINE)
Severity: Moderate
Description: Using CONTRACEPTIVES and eating foods or drinking liquids with CAFFEINE in them, may cause more side effects from the caffeine.
If you use contraceptives and also eat foods or drink liquids with caffeine in them, you may have more side effects from the caffeine. Caffeine is in coffee, chocolate, soft drinks and some medicines. Your doctor may recommend that you limit caffeine. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have unusual heartbeats. 2. Your heart is beating very fast or very hard. 3. You feel nervous and jittery. 4. You have a headache and trouble sleeping. 5. You have trouble relaxing. 6. You have trouble concentrating.
ZOLOFT (SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE) and FOOD (GRAPEFRUIT JUICE)
Severity: Moderate
Description: Treatment with both SERTRALINE and GRAPEFRUIT JUICE may result in large amounts of sertraline in your blood, which may cause more side effects of sertraline than usual.
Drinking grapefruit juice while taking sertraline is not recommended. Orange juice may be a safe alternative to grapefruit juice while taking sertraline. If you are already drinking grapefruit juice while taking sertraline and are experiencing nausea, diarrhea, muscle tremor, or dizziness, contact your physician immediately.
ZOLOFT (SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Minor
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any product containing alcohol) while being treated with SERTRALINE may result in decreased concentration or coordination.
Drinking alcohol while being treated with sertraline is not recommended. If you are drinking alcohol while being treated with sertraline, you may experience excessive drowsiness or decreased concentration. Use caution if you will be operating machinery or driving a car.
TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH (ACETAMINOPHEN) and FOOD
Severity: Minor
Description: Taking ACETAMINOPHEN (or any product containing acetaminophen) with FOOD may result in a decreased amount of acetaminophen in your blood.
Taking acetaminophen with food may affect how well acetaminophen works for you. It is recommended to take acetaminophen on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
CLONAZEPAM and FOOD (CAFFEINE)
Severity: Minor
Description: Taking CLONAZEPAM with CAFFEINE may result in clonazepam not working as well for you.
Clonazepam may interact with certain foods. These foods containing caffeine include but are not limited to coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate. Caffeine may cause clonazepam to not work as well for you. It is recommended to avoid or reduce caffeine at nighttime if you are taking clonazepam to help you sleep.
ALESSE 28 (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL) and TOBACCO
Severity: Minor
Description: Using TOBACCO products and taking CONTRACEPTIVES may cause a higher risk for heart problems.
If you use tobacco products and are also taking a contraceptive (birth control medicine), you may have a higher risk for heart problems. Some examples of tobacco products are cigarettes, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine spray, and chewing tobacco. Some examples of contraceptives are Ortho-Cyclen(R), Ovcon(R), Ortho-Novum(R), Levlen(R), Ortho Evra(TM) and Demulen(R). If you are not sure if you are taking a contraceptive or using a tobacco product, call your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have chest pain or discomfort. 2. You have trouble breathing. 3. You have nausea and vomiting. 4. You feel very weak. 5. You have pain in your jaw, shoulders, or arms.
__
Severity rating definitions
What does "major" mean? The interaction may be life-threatening. Call your doctor immediately to discuss whether you should be taking these medicines together. Your doctor may need to change your therapy to reduce or prevent serious side effects.
What does "moderate" mean? The interaction may make your condition worse. Your doctor may need to change your therapy. Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist about using these medicines together.
What does "minor" mean? The interaction may increase the side effects of each drug. You can usually continue taking both drugs. If you experience any unusual or bothersome side effects, please report them to your doctor.
[This message has been edited by Just-A-Boy (edited 04-13-2003).]
CLONAZEPAM and FIORINAL (BUTALBITAL)
Severity: Major
Description: Taking a BARBITURATE and a BENZODIAZEPINE may cause problems with your breathing.
If you take a barbiturate and are also taking a benzodiazepine, you may have problems with your breathing. Some examples of barbiturates are aprobarbital (Alurate (R)), pentobarbital (Nembutal (R)), and primidone (Mysoline (R)). Some examples of benzodiazepines are alprazolam (Xanax (R)), diazepam (Valium (R)), midazolam (Versed (R)), and triazolam (Halcion (R)). If you are not sure if you are taking a barbiturate or a benzodiazepine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may want you to take both medicines. Your doctor may change the amounts of medicine you take. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have trouble breathing. 2. Very slow breathing. 3. You feel short of breath. 4. You have pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin.
TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH (ACETAMINOPHEN) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any products containing alcohol) while taking ACETAMINOPHEN (or any product containing acetaminophen) may result in a dangerous effect on your liver.
Drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen is not recommended. If you drink several glasses per day of alcohol, it is recommended that you avoid acetaminophen. If you are drinking several glasses per day of alcohol, are taking acetaminophen, and are experiencing decreased appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, chills, fevers, vomiting, yellow skin, itchy skin or rash, dark urine or dark colored stools contact your physician immediately.
FIORINAL (ASPIRIN) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any products containing alcohol) while taking ASPIRIN may result in losing blood out of your digestive tract.
Drinking alcohol while taking aspirin is not recommended. You should wait at least 12 hours after taking aspirin before drinking alcohol. Certain aspirin tablets that are called enteric coated or buffered are recommended if you will be drinking alcohol. If you are drinking alcohol while taking aspirin and are experiencing blood in your stool (dark or black stools or bright red blood in your stools), blood in your urine, or vomiting blood contact your physician immediately.
FIORINAL (BUTALBITAL) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or any product that contains alcohol) while being treated with BUTALBITAL may result in slowing down your nervous system
Drinking alcohol while being treated with butalbital is not recommended. If you are drinking alcohol while being treated with butalbital, you may experience loss of balance, slurred speech, confusion, changes in mental awareness, or dizziness. Use caution if you will be driving a car or operating machinery.
ALESSE 28 (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL) and FOOD (CAFFEINE)
Severity: Moderate
Description: Using CONTRACEPTIVES and eating foods or drinking liquids with CAFFEINE in them, may cause more side effects from the caffeine.
If you use contraceptives and also eat foods or drink liquids with caffeine in them, you may have more side effects from the caffeine. Caffeine is in coffee, chocolate, soft drinks and some medicines. Your doctor may recommend that you limit caffeine. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have unusual heartbeats. 2. Your heart is beating very fast or very hard. 3. You feel nervous and jittery. 4. You have a headache and trouble sleeping. 5. You have trouble relaxing. 6. You have trouble concentrating.
ZOLOFT (SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE) and FOOD (GRAPEFRUIT JUICE)
Severity: Moderate
Description: Treatment with both SERTRALINE and GRAPEFRUIT JUICE may result in large amounts of sertraline in your blood, which may cause more side effects of sertraline than usual.
Drinking grapefruit juice while taking sertraline is not recommended. Orange juice may be a safe alternative to grapefruit juice while taking sertraline. If you are already drinking grapefruit juice while taking sertraline and are experiencing nausea, diarrhea, muscle tremor, or dizziness, contact your physician immediately.
ZOLOFT (SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Minor
Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any product containing alcohol) while being treated with SERTRALINE may result in decreased concentration or coordination.
Drinking alcohol while being treated with sertraline is not recommended. If you are drinking alcohol while being treated with sertraline, you may experience excessive drowsiness or decreased concentration. Use caution if you will be operating machinery or driving a car.
TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH (ACETAMINOPHEN) and FOOD
Severity: Minor
Description: Taking ACETAMINOPHEN (or any product containing acetaminophen) with FOOD may result in a decreased amount of acetaminophen in your blood.
Taking acetaminophen with food may affect how well acetaminophen works for you. It is recommended to take acetaminophen on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
CLONAZEPAM and FOOD (CAFFEINE)
Severity: Minor
Description: Taking CLONAZEPAM with CAFFEINE may result in clonazepam not working as well for you.
Clonazepam may interact with certain foods. These foods containing caffeine include but are not limited to coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate. Caffeine may cause clonazepam to not work as well for you. It is recommended to avoid or reduce caffeine at nighttime if you are taking clonazepam to help you sleep.
ALESSE 28 (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL) and TOBACCO
Severity: Minor
Description: Using TOBACCO products and taking CONTRACEPTIVES may cause a higher risk for heart problems.
If you use tobacco products and are also taking a contraceptive (birth control medicine), you may have a higher risk for heart problems. Some examples of tobacco products are cigarettes, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine spray, and chewing tobacco. Some examples of contraceptives are Ortho-Cyclen(R), Ovcon(R), Ortho-Novum(R), Levlen(R), Ortho Evra(TM) and Demulen(R). If you are not sure if you are taking a contraceptive or using a tobacco product, call your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have chest pain or discomfort. 2. You have trouble breathing. 3. You have nausea and vomiting. 4. You feel very weak. 5. You have pain in your jaw, shoulders, or arms.
__
Severity rating definitions
What does "major" mean? The interaction may be life-threatening. Call your doctor immediately to discuss whether you should be taking these medicines together. Your doctor may need to change your therapy to reduce or prevent serious side effects.
What does "moderate" mean? The interaction may make your condition worse. Your doctor may need to change your therapy. Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist about using these medicines together.
What does "minor" mean? The interaction may increase the side effects of each drug. You can usually continue taking both drugs. If you experience any unusual or bothersome side effects, please report them to your doctor.
[This message has been edited by Just-A-Boy (edited 04-13-2003).]