Docs/Pharmas - drug interaction question

[evenflow]

Any docs or pharmas out there?

I've read that Itraconazole has an interaction with 2nd generation antihistamines (certirizine, loratidine etc). Currently taking 200mg Itraconazole per day (for 7 days) but have horrendous hayfever! Is it really a bad idea to mix the two?

Cheers.

[evenflow]

Anyone?

[trix-a-belle]

can't help on the drug interaction but a friend at work swears by this for her hayfever http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...
yes it looks very weird but she recons it has reduced her symptoms (she uses for 1 min every 3-4 hours) & at least you don't need to depend on antihistamine then especially if it will affect other things you are taking

S

[dgb00]

Yup, it's a bad idea. Itraconazole inhibits the same liver enzyme (cytochrome P450 3A4) that metabolises most 2nd gen antihistamines. Bottom line: if you take the itraconazole it stops your body breaking down the loratidine etc. The antihistamine levels rise as you take more doses as you have no way of stopping it working. Antihistamines are associated with certain heart arrhythmias, that can very rarely cause cardiac arrest. In theory you could take a single dose of loratidine to push up plasma levels to therapeutic levels, but I have no idea when you could take a second dose. So I would probably avoid it TBH. HTH.

[evenflow]

Blimey, doesn't sound like a good idea then. Thanks very much for the detailed reply.

Trixie - thank you also. May try one of those gadgets out.