Details of Drug-Drug Interaction
| Drug General Information (ID: DDIKGJ3V4A) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Methadone | Drug Info | Lopinavir | Drug Info | |||||
| Drug Type | Small molecule | Small molecule | |||||||
| Therapeutic Class | Analgesics | Anti-Hiv Agents | |||||||
| Structure | |||||||||
| Mechanism of Methadone-Lopinavir Interaction (Severity Level: Major) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased risk of prolong QT interval Click to Show/Hide Mechanism Graph | |||||||||
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| Drug Name | Methadone | Lopinavir | |||||||
| Mechanism | Prolong QT interval | Prolong QT interval | |||||||
| Key Mechanism Factor 1 | |||||||||
| Factor Name | QT interval | ||||||||
| Factor Description | Long QT syndrome is a heart signaling disorder that can cause a fast, chaotic heartbeat (arrhythmia). Many people may not exhibit symptoms, and usually the condition is detected during routine medical tests. In others, the most common symptoms include: sudden fainting, palpitations, dizziness, seizures, sudden death. | ||||||||
| Mechanism Description |
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| Recommended Action | |||||||||
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| Management | Caution is recommended if methadone is used in combination with other drugs that can prolong the QT interval, particularly in the setting of chronic pain management or methadone maintenance for opioid dependency where high dosages may be employed. Patients should be advised to seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms that could indicate the occurrence of torsade de pointes such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, palpitation, irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, or syncope. If taking drugs that also cause CNS-depressant or orthostatic effects (e.g., sedating antihistamines, psychotropic drugs like tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, and neuroleptics), patients should be made aware of the possibility of additive effects with methadone and counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them. | ||||||||