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Possible Amiodarone–Warfarin Interaction: A Reemphasis on a Potentially Dangerous Drug–Drug Interaction
Roda Plakogiannis, BS, PharmD, BCPS
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist/Ambulatory Care, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, New York, roda.plakogiannis{at}liu.edu
Regina Ginzburg, BS, PharmD
St John's University College of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care, Institute for Urban Family Health, New York, New York
This article reports two patients with delayed amiodarone— warfarin interaction resulting in a significant elevation in the international normalized ratio. One patient developed episodes of nosebleeds. Amiodarone is a potent inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Warfarin undergoes metabolism via the same isoenzyme, potentially leading to prolongation of elevated international normalized ratio levels. A decrease in the warfarin dose is thus warranted when coadministered with amiodarone to circumvent the potential danger of this interaction, which can go unnoticed because several weeks of therapy may be necessary to discern an elevated international normalized ratio. The Naranjo probability scale indicated a possible relationship between the elevated international normalized ratio levels and the coadministration of amiodarone and warfarin. With the coadministration of warfarin and amiodarone, frequent and close monitoring of warfarin is paramount, especially in the initial weeks of therapy, in an effort to prevent supratherapeutic international normalized ratios and bleeding complications.
Key Words: Amiodarone • warfarin • international normalized ratio • drug interaction.
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Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 20, No. 6,
469-473 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0897190007311454
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