Drug General Information (ID: DDIXE4H5K7)
Drug Name			Ganciclovir		Drug Info		Imipenem		Drug Info
Drug Type		Small molecule				Small molecule
Therapeutic Class		Antiviral Agents				Antibiotics
Structure

Mechanism of Ganciclovir-Imipenem Interaction (Severity Level: Moderate)
Increased risk of lowers seizure threshold Click to Show/Hide Mechanism Graph
Drug Name		Ganciclovir				Imipenem
Mechanism		Lower seizure threshold				Lower seizure threshold
Key Mechanism Factor 1
		Factor Name		Lowers seizure threshold
		Factor Description		The combination of medications that lower the seizure threshold is a factor that makes people with epilepsy more likely to have seizures. A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain that can cause changes in your behavior, movements or sensations, and level of consciousness.
Mechanism Description		Increased risk of lowers seizure threshold by the combination of Ganciclovir and Imipenem

Recommended Action
Management		The manufacturers recommend that concomitant use of ganciclovir or its prodrug, valganciclovir, with imipenem-cilastatin be avoided unless the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Patients receiving this combination should be closely monitored for tremors, mental status changes, and seizures.

References
1	Product Information. Cytovene (ganciclovir). Genentech, South San Francisco, CA.
2	Product Information. Primaxin (imipenem-cilastatin). Merck &amp Company Inc, West Point, PA.
3	Product Information. Valcyte (valganciclovir) Roche Laboratories, Nutley, NJ.