Sodium Citrate-Citric Acid (citric acid/sodium citrate)

No dosing information is available for this tab.

Citrate preparations (i.e., potassium citrate and citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium citrate and citric acid, tricitrates) are administered orally. Oral citrate solutions should be diluted with adequate amounts of water prior to administration to minimize the risk of GI complications, and followed by additional water after administration; palatability may be enhanced by chilling the solution before administration. For reconstitution of potassium citrate and citric acid for oral solution in single-dose packets, the contents of one packet should be mixed thoroughly with at least 180 mL of cool water or juice prior to administration and followed by additional water or juice after administration. Oral citrate solutions should preferably be taken after meals to avoid the saline laxative effect of the drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient.

Urinary Alkalinizers/Methenamine

SEVERITY LEVEL: 1-Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Urinary alkalinizers may elevate urinary ph preventing the conversion of methenamine to formaldehyde and mandelic acid.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent administration may result in alkalinization of the urine causing methenamine to be less effective.(1)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The Australian and UK manufacturers of methenamine state that concurrent use with agents that make urine alkaline or urine alkalinizing agents should be avoided.(2,3) Patients receiving concurrent therapy should be monitored for urinary ph and any worsening symptoms of their infection, including dysuria, flank pain, or fever.(1)

DISCUSSION: Administration of urinary alkalinizers may result in alkalinization of the urine resulting in therapeutic failure of methenamine. Formaldehyde is released by acid hydrolysis from methenamine resulting in bactericidal concentrations at urinary ph 5.0 to 5.5. Above urinary ph 6.0 there is insufficient quantities of formaldehyde and methenamine released to achieve a therapeutic response.(1) An in vitro study showed that methenamine efficacy is achieved when the urine pH is less than 5.7 to 5.85.(4)

Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

Urinary Alkalinizers/Dextroamphetamine Transdermal

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Urinary alkalinizers decrease the renal elimination of dextroamphetamine.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use of dextroamphetamine and urinary alkalinizers may result in increased dextroamphetamine levels and side effects.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Coadministration of dextroamphetamine with urinary alkalinizing agents should be avoided.(1)

DISCUSSION: Concurrent use of alkalinizing agents with dextroamphetamine decreases the renal elimination of dextroamphetamine. Co-administration of these should be avoided because of the potential of increased actions of dextroamphetamine.(1)

Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

Agents Affecting Gastric Ph/Itraconazole; Ketoconazole

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Antacids, buffers in didanosine products, H2 antagonists, and proton-pump inhibitors increase the stomach pH. Quinapril tablets may contain a high percentage of magnesium. Since some orally administered azole antifungal agents require an acidic medium for optimal absorption, agents may decrease the absorption of azole antifungal agents.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Simultaneous administration of an antacid, buffered didanosine, a H2 antagonist, or a proton-pump inhibitor may result in decreased therapeutic effects of the azole antifungal.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: If the concurrent administration of these two agents cannot be avoided, consider administering two capsules of glutamic acid hydrochloride 15 minutes before administering the antifungal and separate the administration times of the antifungal and the agent affecting gastric pH by at least two hours.

DISCUSSION: Itraconazole, ketoconazole, and posaconazole require an acidic medium for predictable dissolution and absorption decreases as pH increases and proton pump inhibitors are expected to decrease their absorption.(1-4) In a study in 11 healthy subjects, omeprazole (40 mg daily) decreased the maximum concentration (Cmax) and area-under-curve (AUC) of itraconazole (200 mg single dose) by 66% and 64%, respectively.(5) In a study in 15 healthy subjects, omeprazole (40 mg daily) had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of itraconazole solution.(6) In a study in 9 healthy subjects, omeprazole (60 mg) decreased the AUC of ketoconazole (200 mg single dose) by 83.4% compared to control (ketoconazole alone). Administration of Coca-Cola (240 ml) with ketoconazole and omeprazole raised ketoconazole AUC to 65% of control values.(7) Omeprazole has been shown to have no significant effect on the absorption of fluconazole(8) or voriconazole.(9) Case reports and in-vivo studies have documented significant decreases in ketoconazole levels during concurrent therapy with H-2 antagonists, including cimetidine and ranitidine. Concurrent administration of itraconazole and famotidine resulted in a significant decrease in itraconazole levels, but no significant changes in famotidine levels. An interaction should be expected to occur between both ketoconazole or itraconazole and the other H-2 antagonists.(10-14) In randomized, open-labeled, cross-over study in 12 healthy subjects, simultaneous administration of an antacid decreased the area-under-curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax) of a single dose of itraconazole (200 mg) by 66% and 70%, respectively. Time to Cmax (Tmax) increased by 70%.(15) This interaction has also been reported in a case report.(16) In a study in 3 subjects, simultaneous administration of a combination aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (30 ml) decreased the AUC of a single dose of ketoconazole (200 mg) by 41%.(172) In a case report, a patient receiving concurrent ketoconazole with aluminum hydroxide, cimetidine, and sodium bicarbonate did not respond to therapy until cimetidine was discontinued and the administration time of aluminum hydroxide and cimetidine was changed to 2 hours after ketoconazole. In a follow-up study in 2 subjects, concurrent cimetidine and sodium hydroxide lowered ketoconazole levels.(18) In a study in 14 subjects, simultaneous administration of aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (20 ml, 1800 mg/1200 mg) had no significant effects on fluconazole pharmacokinetics.(3) In a randomized, open-label, cross-over study in 6 subjects, simultaneous administration of itraconazole with buffered didanosine tablets resulted in undetectable levels of itraconazole.(19) In a randomized cross-over study in 12 HIV-positive subjects, administration of buffered didanosine tablets 2 hours after ketoconazole had no effects on ketoconazole levels.(20) In a randomized, cross-over, open-label study in 24 healthy subjects, simultaneous administration of enteric-coated didanosine had no effect on ketoconazole pharmacokinetics.(21) One or more of the drug pairs linked to this monograph have been included in a list of interactions that could be considered for classification as "non-interruptive" in EHR systems. This DDI subset was vetted by an expert panel commissioned by the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology.

Antacids; Buffered Formulations/Amprenavir; Atazanavir

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Antacids increase gastric pH. As gastric pH increases, the solubility of atazanavir decreases.(1,2) The exact mechanism behind the interaction between amprenavir and antacids is unknown.(3)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Simultaneous administration of amprenavir or atazanavir with antacids or buffered formulations may result in decreased levels and effectiveness of amprenavir(3) and atazanavir.(1,2)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The manufacturer of amprenavir states that amprenavir should be administered 1 hour before or after antacids or buffered formulations such as didanosine.(3) The manufacturer of atazanavir states that atazanavir should be administered 2 hours before or 1 hour after antacids or buffered formulations.(1,2) Some vitamin preparations may contain sufficient quantities of calcium and/or magnesium salts with antacid properties to interact as well.

DISCUSSION: Simultaneous administration of atazanavir with didanosine buffered tablets decreased atazanavir area-under-curve (AUC), maximum concentration (Cmax) and minimum concentration (Cmin) by 87%, 89% and 84%, respectively. Administration of atazanavir 1 hour after didanosine buffered tablets had no significant effect on atazanavir pharmacokinetics.(1) Other buffered formulations and antacids are expected to substantially decrease atazanavir concentrations and therapeutic effectiveness as well.(1,2)

Urinary Alkalinizers/Memantine; Amantadine

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Memantine and amantadine elimination is impaired by urinary alkalinization.(1,2)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Potentiation of memantine or amantadine effects may be observed.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Monitor patient for adverse reactions such as dizziness, headache, or confusion if a urinary alkalinizer is required. The memantine or amantadine dose may need to be adjusted when a urinary alkalinizer is started or stopped.(1,2)

DISCUSSION: The clearance of memantine was reduced by about 80% under alkaline urine conditions at pH 8. Urine alkalinization may lead to an accumulation of memantine with a possible increase in adverse effects. Urine pH is also altered by diet and clinical state of the patient (e.g., renal tubular acidosis or severe infections of the urinary tract). Hence, memantine should be used with caution under these conditions.(1) A study in rats showed that concomitant administration of sodium bicarbonate with amantadine caused a decrease in amantadine renal clearance (1.16 vs. 0.76). Amantadine's area-under-the-curve (AUC) was increased approximately 78%.(3) A study in 12 healthy subjects showed that plasma concentrations of memantine are dependent on urine pH. Alkaline urine pH caused a 79% reduction in renal clearance.(4)

Urinary Alkalinizers/Quinidine

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Quinidine elimination is impaired by urinary alkalinization.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Potentiation of quinidine effects may be observed.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Monitoring quinidine levels and cardiac function may be indicated. The quinidine dose may need to be adjusted when a urinary alkalinizer is started or stopped.

DISCUSSION: Additional documentation is necessary to confirm this potential interaction.

Urinary Alkalinizers/Sympathomimetics

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Unionized sympathomimetic amines will be reabsorbed into systemic circulation from the distal tubules of the kidneys.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Enhanced sympathomimetic activity and increased risk of sympathomimetic toxicity.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Watch patient for enhanced sympathomimetic side effects when urinary alkalinizers are concomitantly used. A lower dose of certain sympathomimetics may be required.

DISCUSSION: Signs and symptoms of sympathomimetic toxicity include euphoria, confusion, delirium, hallucinations and nervousness.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

• Acute adrenocortical insufficiency
• Azotemia
• Familial hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
• Metabolic alkalosis

• Anuria
• Chronic heart failure
• Dehydration
• Hypernatremia
• Hypocalcemia
• Pulmonary edema
• Renal disease with mild to moderate renal function impairment
• Severe renal impairment

• Hypertension
• Peripheral edema

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

Less Frequent

• Metabolic alkalosis

There are no less severe adverse reactions for this drug.

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.

Controlled studies to date in pregnant women receiving potassium citrate have not shown a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy and there is no evidence of risk in subsequent trimesters.

It is not known whether potassium citrate is distributed into milk. Because potassium freely distributes into and out of milk, use of potassium citrate by a nursing woman with normal plasma potassium concentrations should have no adverse effect on the nursing infant; milk potassium concentrations may be increased in hyperkalemic women.

No enhanced messaging available.