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Potentially Serious Drug Interactions Secondary to High‐Dose Diltiazem Used in the Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension
Author(s) -
Clarke William R.,
Horn John R.,
Kawabori Isamu,
Gurtel Sharon
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1993.tb02750.x
Subject(s) - diltiazem , medicine , digoxin , pharmacology , angina , pulmonary hypertension , pharmacokinetics , drug , dose , pharmacodynamics , calcium channel , drug interaction , calcium channel blocker , intensive care medicine , calcium , heart failure , myocardial infarction
Two patients had potentially serious drug interactions (phenytoin, digoxin) that were probably attributable to changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics caused by high‐dose calcium channel blocker therapy (diltiazem) in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Even in the approved normal dosages for the treatment of angina and hypertension, calcium channel blockers are known to cause significant changes in the metabolism of other drugs. Currently, no data exist on the effects of the very high dosages of these drugs, administered to patients with pulmonary hypertension, on the metabolism and clearance of other agents, although, based on our experience and literature reports, recommendations for monitoring therapy can be made.