Levomethadyl; Methadone/Itraconazole
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Severe. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Itraconazole may slow down how quickly your liver processes your pain medicine.
What might happen:
The amount of pain medicine in your blood may increase. This may cause you to have an irregular heartbeat, which may be life-threatening.
What you should do about this interaction:
Contact your healthcare professionals (e.g doctor or pharmacist) about taking these medications together. Let your doctor know right away if you notice an irregular heartbeat or have any dizziness or fainting episodes. Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Sporanox (itraconazole) US prescribing information. Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P. April, 2012.
2.NoorZurani MH, Vicknasingam B, Narayanan S. Itraconazole-induced torsade de pointes in a patient receiving methadone substitution therapy. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009 Nov;28(6):688-90.
