Tasigna interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Tasigna interactions with other medications  

Before you start treatment with Tasigna, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Tasigna interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Tasigna and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Tasigna. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Tasigna. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

When to avoid Tasigna

In some cases, certain factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Tasigna due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Tasigna include:

Having hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia

Doctors typically will not prescribe Tasigna for people with hypokalemia (low blood potassium levels) or hypomagnesemia (low blood magnesium levels). This is because Tasigna may cause QT prolongation (a type of irregular heart rhythm) as a side effect. Having a low level of potassium or magnesium can worsen this condition.

In fact, Tasigna has a boxed warning about the risk of QT prolongation. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.

If you have low potassium or magnesium levels, talk with your doctor before taking Tasigna. They may prescribe a different medication instead. They also may recommend taking potassium or magnesium supplements to bring your level up to a normal range.

For details about Tasigna’s side effects, see this article.

Having long QT syndrome

Doctors typically will not prescribe Tasigna if you have long QT syndrome.

This is because Tasigna may cause QT prolongation. In rare cases, QT prolongation has caused sudden death.

Tasigna has a boxed warning about the risk of QT prolongation and sudden death. For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.

Before you start treatment with Tasigna, it’s important to tell your doctor if you have long QT syndrome. They’ll likely prescribe a treatment other than Tasigna for your condition.

Tasigna interaction with alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between Tasigna and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Tasigna treatment.

This is because consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Tasigna may also cause liver damage as a side effect. This means that drinking alcohol during Tasigna treatment may increase the risk of liver problems.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Tasigna, talk with your doctor.

Drug interactions in depth

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Tasigna.

Proton pump inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed to treat various medical conditions caused by too much stomach acid.

Interaction result: Taking PPIs with Tasigna can make Tasigna less effective than usual.

Interaction explained: PPIs can reduce the amount of Tasigna absorbed by your body. This can lead to lower levels of Tasigna in your system, which decreases its effectiveness.

Examples of PPI drugs: Here are some PPIs that may interact with Tasigna:

• omeprazole (Prilosec)
• pantoprazole (Protonix)
• lansoprazole (Prevacid)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before you start taking Tasigna, tell your doctor if you take a PPI. They’ll likely prescribe a different treatment or switch to another acid-reducing medication. These include H2 blockers or antacids.

If you and your doctor decide that you’ll take an H2 blocker with Tasigna, be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions. They’ll likely advise you to take the H2 blocker about 10 hours before or 2 hours after your Tasigna dose.

If you’re taking an antacid with Tasigna, you should take the antacid about 2 hours before or 2 hours after your dose of Tasigna.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like more information about PPIs and Tasigna.

Certain antiarrhythmic medications

Antiarrhythmic drugs are prescribed to treat irregular heart rhythms.

Interaction result: Taking certain antiarrhythmic drugs with Tasigna can increase your risk of long QT syndrome.

Interaction explained: Many antiarrhythmic drugs can cause long QT syndrome. Tasigna can cause QT prolongation as a side effect. This means that taking Tasigna with these drugs can increase the risk of long QT syndrome.

Additionally, Tasigna blocks the activity of an enzyme that helps break down certain antiarrhythmic drugs in your body. (An enzyme is a type of protein.) This can lead to a higher level of the antiarrhythmic drug in your system. Higher levels can increase your risk of side effects, such as long QT syndrome.

Examples of antiarrhythmic drugs: Here are some antiarrhythmic drugs that may interact with Tasigna:

• amiodarone (Pacerone)
• sotalol (Betapace, Sorine)
• quinidine
• lidocaine

Steps you or your doctor may take: If you’re taking Tasigna and need to start taking an antiarrhythmic drug, talk with your doctor. Be sure they know that you’re taking Tasigna. In some cases, they may prescribe the drugs together and monitor your heart closely. In other cases, they’ll prescribe an antiarrhythmic that doesn’t interact with Tasigna.

To learn more about antiarrhythmics and Tasigna, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Certain antidepressants

Antidepressants are prescribed for various mental health conditions, including:

• depression
• anxiety
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Interaction result: Taking certain antidepressants with Tasigna can increase your risk of long QT syndrome.

Interaction explained: Certain antidepressants can increase your risk of QT prolongation. Tasigna can also cause QT prolongation as a side effect. As a result, taking these medications together can increase your risk of long QT syndrome.

Additionally, Tasigna blocks the activity of an enzyme that breaks down certain antidepressants. This can lead to higher levels of those antidepressants in your system. With higher levels, you have an increased risk of side effects from the antidepressant.

Examples of antidepressant drugs: Here are some antidepressants that may interact with Tasigna:

• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• citalopram (Celexa)
• venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before starting Tasigna treatment, be sure to tell your doctor if you take an antidepressant. They can help determine if it’s safe for you to take these medications together. If they are taken together, your doctor will likely closely monitor your heart and your electrolyte levels during treatment. This is because low levels of the electrolytes potassium or magnesium can increase the risk of long QT syndrome.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like more information about antidepressants and Tasigna.

Note: Tasigna has a boxed warning about the risk of QT prolongation. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.

Tasigna and other interactions

Tasigna may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Tasigna.

Tasigna interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Tasigna, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tasigna interactions with herbs

Doctors will typically recommend you avoid taking St. John’s wort with Tasigna. St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that may help treat depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort may speed up the activity of an enzyme in your body that helps break down Tasigna.

By speeding up this enzyme, St. John’s wort can cause Tasigna to break down more quickly, potentially leading to a low level of Tasigna in your system. If the level of Tasigna in your system is too low, the drug may not work to treat CML.

Your doctor may be able to suggest a treatment option other than St. John’s wort.

Note: It’s possible that other herbal interactions with Tasigna may occur or be recognized in the future. For this reason, it’s always important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal products during Tasigna treatment.

Tasigna interactions with vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Tasigna. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Tasigna.

Tasigna interactions with food

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with Tasigna. Specifically, grapefruit products can stop your body from breaking down Tasigna. This raises the level of Tasigna in your body, which increases your risk of side effects from Tasigna. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend not consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking the drug.

For details about Tasigna’s side effects, see this article.

Tasigna interactions with vaccines

Tasigna may interact with certain vaccines, including live vaccines. A live vaccine contains live but weakened pieces of the virus or bacterium it’s meant to defend against. When your immune system is healthy, live vaccines usually won’t cause infection.

But Tasigna works by weakening your immune system. So if you get a live vaccine, your immune system may not be able to fight the virus or bacterium. This may cause you to become sick or develop symptoms of the illness the vaccine is meant to prevent.

Examples of live vaccines to avoid during Tasigna treatment include:

• live cholera vaccine
• measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine

Tasigna treatment may also reduce your immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Before starting Tasigna, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any vaccines you may need.

Tasigna interactions with lab tests

Tasigna is not known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

TASIGNA INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Tasigna. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Tasigna. Cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Tasigna treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Tasigna and health-related interactions

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Tasigna. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Tasigna may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Tasigna include:

• Pancreatitis: Tasigna can raise your risk of pancreatitis, especially if you’ve had pancreatitis in the past. Be sure to let your doctor know if you’ve had pancreatitis before you start Tasigna.
• Cardiovascular problems: If you have cardiovascular disease, you may have a higher risk of heart problems or artery blockages during Tasigna treatment. Your doctor will likely assess your risk of cardiovascular problems before and during Tasigna treatment to make sure it’s safe for you to take.
• Liver problems: Tasigna can increase the risk of certain liver problems, such as liver damage. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have liver problems before you start Tasigna. They may prescribe a lower dosage of the drug or suggest a different treatment option.
• Low blood potassium or magnesium levels: Low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood can increase your risk of serious heart problems from Tasigna. This includes long QT syndrome. Due to this risk, your doctor will likely order tests to monitor your potassium and magnesium levels before and during Tasigna treatment.
• Surgical removal of your stomach: If you’ve had all or part of your stomach surgically removed, Tasigna may not be effective enough in treating your condition. If you’ve had your stomach removed, your doctor may prescribe a higher dosage of Tasigna.
• Milk sugar intolerances: Tasigna contains lactose. If you have problems digesting or metabolizing lactose, glucose, or galactose, Tasigna may not be safe for you. Tell your doctor if you have intolerances to milk sugar before you start Tasigna.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Tasigna or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tasigna. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: Tasigna can cause serious side effects in a child who consumes it in breast milk. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor about treatment options or alternative ways to feed your child before taking Tasigna.
• Pregnancy: Tasigna can cause serious fetal harm if taken during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Tasigna. They can discuss alternative treatments with you.

FAQs about Tasigna and interactions

Here are some frequently asked questions about Tasigna and possible interactions.

Is there an interaction between Tasigna and coffee?

No, there are no specific reports of Tasigna interacting with coffee.

However, coffee contains caffeine, and both Tasigna and caffeine can sometimes cause nausea, dizziness, or headaches. This means you may have an increased risk of these side effects if you drink coffee during Tasigna treatment.

Talk with your doctor about consuming coffee while taking Tasigna. For information about Tasigna’s side effects, see this article.

Can I take acetaminophen if I’m taking Tasigna?

In general, yes, it’s safe to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) with Tasigna. There are no reports of these medications interacting with each other.

However, keep in mind that both acetaminophen and Tasigna can cause liver problems, including liver damage. This side effect isn’t likely with acetaminophen unless you take higher doses than recommended. Your risk is also increased if you consume alcohol and take these medications together. (See “Tasigna interaction with alcohol” above to learn about Tasigna and alcohol.)

Before taking acetaminophen or any over-the-counter medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can advise you about whether the medication is safe for you and what the right dosage is.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Tasigna. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Tasigna label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention interactions. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Tasigna doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Tasigna by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.