6 Interactions found for:
Drug Interactions
No drug interactions were found for selected drugs: Ambien, metformin.
This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Drug and Food Interactions
Major
Metformin
+ Food
The following applies to the ingredients: Metformin
MetFORMIN should be taken with meals, and excessive alcohol intake (either short-term binge drinking or frequent consumption) should be avoided during treatment. Taking metFORMIN with alcohol may increase the risk of a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening condition known as lactic acidosis, which is a buildup of lactic acid in the blood that can occasionally occur during treatment with metformin-containing products. Lactic acidosis is more likely to occur if you have kidney or liver disease, acute or unstable congestive heart failure, or dehydration. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop potential signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis such as fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, increasing drowsiness, abdominal pain or discomfort, slow or irregular heartbeat, breathing difficulty, chills, and other unusual symptoms. Alcohol may also affect blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink. You should avoid using alcohol if your diabetes is not well controlled or if you have high triglycerides, neuropathy (nerve damage), or pancreatitis. Moderate alcohol consumption generally does not affect blood glucose levels if your diabetes is under control. However, you should limit your alcohol intake due to the risk of lactic acidosis with metformin. Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach or following exercise, as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about metformin.
Moderate
Ambien
+ Food
The following applies to the ingredients: Zolpidem (found in Ambien)
You should avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with zolpidem. Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of zolpidem such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. Taking zolpidem with food may delay the onset of sleep. For faster sleep onset, zolpidem should not be taken with or immediately after a meal. This will make it easier for your body to absorb the medication. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.
Drug and Pregnancy Interactions
Major
Ambien
+ Pregnancy
The following applies to the ingredients: Zolpidem (found in Ambien)
Professional Content
This drug is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and the benefit outweighs the risk.
AU TGA pregnancy category: B3
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned.
Risk summary: The data do not report a clear association between use of this drug and major birth defects.
Comments:
-A syndrome of hypothermia, hypotonia, respiratory depression and difficulty feeding may occur in in infants of mothers administered this drug in the late phase of pregnancy or during childbirth.
-Withdrawal symptoms may occur in neonates whose mothers were taking sedative-hypnotics late in pregnancy.
Cases of severe neonatal respiratory depression have been reported when this drug was used at the end of pregnancy, especially when used with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Infants born to mothers who took benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine-like agents chronically during the latter stages of pregnancy may be at risk for developing physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms in the postnatal period. Additionally, neonatal flaccidity also has been reported in infants born to mothers who received sedative/hypnotic drugs during pregnancy.
Animal studies have revealed no evidence of teratogenicity or fertility impairment, but adverse effects including incomplete fetal skeletal ossification and increased embryo-fetal death.
AU TGA pregnancy category B3: Drugs which have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals have shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage, the significance of which is considered uncertain in humans.
US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.
References
- "Product Information. Ambien (zolpidem)." sanofi-aventis PROD (2001):
- "Product Information. Ambien CR (zolpidem)." Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc (2005):
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
- "Product Information. Edluar (zolpidem)." Meda Pharmaceuticals (2009):
- TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian Drug Evaluation Committee "Prescribing medicines in pregnancy: an Australian categorisation of risk of drug use in pregnancy. http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/medpreg.htm" (2010):
- "Product Information. Intermezzo (zolpidem)." Purdue Pharma LP (2011):
- "Product Information. Zolpimist (zolpidem)." Magna Pharmaceuticals Inc (2017):
Minor
Metformin
+ Pregnancy
The following applies to the ingredients: Metformin
Professional Content
Benefit should outweigh risk
AU TGA pregnancy category: C
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned
Risk Summary: Data are not sufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects or miscarriage; published studies have not reported an increased risk. There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy.
Comments:
-Maternal glucose levels should be well controlled prior to conception and throughout pregnancy to avoid maternal and fetal diabetes-associated risks.
-Premenopausal women should understand the potential for unintended pregnancy with use of this drug as ovulation may occur in some anovulatory women.
Animal studies do not indicate harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryo or fetal development, birth or postnatal development. Poorly-controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, stillbirth and delivery complications. Poorly controlled maternal diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia related morbidity. Published evidence suggests this drug has a good safety profile in women with no increased long-term effects in offspring up to 18 months; however, much of the evidence is from observational, small, and/or nonrandomized studies, and therefore data must be interpreted cautiously.
Many experts continue to recommend insulin as the drug of choice for type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes when diet alone is unsuccessful in controlling blood sugars. The estimated background risk for major birth defects in women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus with an HbA1C greater than 7 is 6% to 10% and for women with a HbA1C greater than 10, this risk has been reported to be as high as 20% to 25%. In the US, the estimated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. The estimated risk of miscarriage for pregnant women with diabetes is unknown. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
AU TGA pregnancy category C: Drugs which, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.
US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.
References
- "Product Information. Glucophage (metformin)." Bristol-Myers Squibb PROD (2001):
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
- "Product Information. Fortamet (metformin)." Physicians Total Care (2014):
- "Product Information. Glumetza (metformin)." Biovail Pharmaceuticals Canada (2014):
- "Product Information. Riomet (metformin)." Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals (2014):
- Lindsay RS, Loeken MR "Metformin use in pregnancy: promises and uncertainties" Diabetologia 60 (2017): 1612-9
- Kelley KW, Carroll DG, Meyer A "A review of current treatment strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus." Drugs Context 4 (2015): epub
Drug and Breastfeeding Interactions
Major
Ambien
+ Breastfeeding
The following applies to the ingredients: Zolpidem (found in Ambien)
Professional Content
Use is not recommended and a decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Excreted into human milk: Yes
Comments:
-Some experts state that this drug should be used with caution.
-Due to the low levels of this drug in breastmilk and its short half-life, amounts ingested by nursing infants are small and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in these infants.
-The American Academy of Pediatrics considers this drug to be compatible with breastfeeding.
-Some experts recommend monitoring breastfed infants for hypotonia, respiratory depression, and sedation.
After a single, 20 mg oral dose was administered to 5 nursing mothers (who were 3 to 4 days postpartum), breastmilk collected at 3 hours contained between 0.004% to 0.019% of the maternal dosage; the drug was undetectable (drug levels less than 0.5 mcg/L) in the breastmilk 13 to 16 hours after the dose was given.
In animal models, administration of this drug during the latter part of pregnancy and throughout lactation produced decreased offspring growth and survival at all but the lowest dose tested.
References
- "Product Information. Ambien (zolpidem)." sanofi-aventis PROD (2001):
- "Product Information. Ambien CR (zolpidem)." Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc (2005):
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
- "Product Information. Edluar (zolpidem)." Meda Pharmaceuticals (2009):
- TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian Drug Evaluation Committee "Prescribing medicines in pregnancy: an Australian categorisation of risk of drug use in pregnancy. http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/medpreg.htm" (2010):
- "Product Information. Intermezzo (zolpidem)." Purdue Pharma LP (2011):
- United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK. "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation." Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health (2015):
- "Product Information. Zolpimist (zolpidem)." Magna Pharmaceuticals Inc (2017):
Minor
Metformin
+ Breastfeeding
The following applies to the ingredients: Metformin
Professional Content
Benefit should outweigh risk
Excreted into human milk: Yes
Comments:
-Available data have not reported adverse effects in breastfed infants, however, this data is limited.
-Due to this limited data, product manufacturers recommend a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, considering the importance of the drug to the mother.
-Published data suggest this drug is compatible with breastfeeding; they recommend caution when nursing a newborn or premature infant, and those with renal impairment.
Drug levels are expected to be 0.5% (range 0.11% to 1%) of the mother's weight-adjusted dosage and milk/plasma ratio range between 0.13 and 1. Since milk levels are expected to be relatively constant, timing of breastfeeding with drug administration is expected to be of little benefit. One large prospective study found no adverse effects in breastfed infants. Low detectable serum levels were found in some breastfed infants.
References
- "Product Information. Glucophage (metformin)." Bristol-Myers Squibb PROD (2001):
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
- Feig DS, Briggs GG, Koren G "Oral antidiabetic agents in pregnancy and lactation: a paradigm shift?" Ann Pharmacother (2007): 1174-80
- Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
- United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):
- "Product Information. Fortamet (metformin)." Physicians Total Care (2014):
- "Product Information. Glumetza (metformin)." Biovail Pharmaceuticals Canada (2014):
- "Product Information. Riomet (metformin)." Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals (2014):
- Kelley KW, Carroll DG, Meyer A "A review of current treatment strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus." Drugs Context 4 (2015): epub
Therapeutic Duplication Warnings
No warnings were found for your selected drugs.Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.
Switch to: Professional Interactions
Drug Interaction Classification | |
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These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication. |
|
Major | Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit. |
Moderate | Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances. |
Minor | Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan. |
Unknown | No interaction information available. |
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