Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Cimetidine may increase the level of
Calan in your blood, increasing your risk of
Calan side effects (although drug interaction studies have shown mixed results). Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your Calan dose or may suggest an alternative to cimetidine.
Clonidine (Catapres)
There have reports of a dangerously slow heart rate in people who combined
clonidine and
verapamil (the active ingredient in Calan). Some cases were serious enough to require hospitalization and even the insertion of a pacemaker. Check with your healthcare provider before taking these medications together.
Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
Calan may increase the level of
cyclosporine in your blood, increasing your risk of side effects. Your healthcare provider should monitor your cyclosporine levels and may need to adjust your dosage.
CYP 3A4 Inducers
Calan is broken down (metabolized) by certain liver enzymes known as CYP 3A4 enzymes. Other medications (known as CYP 3A4 inducers) that increase the activity of these enzymes can decrease the level of Calan in the blood, making Calan less effective. Check with your healthcare provider before taking Calan with any of these medications. If you have already been taking such medications with Calan, check with your healthcare provider before stopping them.
CYP 3A4 Inhibitors
Calan is broken down (metabolized) by certain liver enzymes known as CYP 3A4 enzymes. Other medications (known as CYP 3A4 inhibitors) that slow the activity of these enzymes can increase the level of Calan in the blood, perhaps leading to increased and possibly dangerous side effects. Check with your healthcare provider before taking Calan with any of these medications. If you have already been taking such medications with Calan, check with your healthcare provider before stopping them.
Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)
Calan may increase the level of
digoxin in your blood (although studies have shown conflicting results). Because changes in
digoxin levels can be dangerous, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of digoxin in your blood and adjust your
digoxin dosage as necessary. Your healthcare provider should also monitor your heart rate, as Calan and digoxin can both lower your heart rate.
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