Dovato interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Dovato interactions with other medications  

Before you start treatment with Dovato, 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 Dovato interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Dovato and other interactions” section.)

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 Dovato. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Dovato. Some of these interactions are described in detail in “Drug interactions in depth.”

When to avoid Dovato

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

Taking dofetilide

Doctors typically will not prescribe Dovato in combination with dofetilide (Tikosyn), which is used to treat an irregular heartbeat.

This is because taking Dovato can affect your kidneys’ ability to remove dofetilide from your body. This can result in high levels of dofetilide in your system, which can increase your risk of side effects from the drug. This includes side effects that may be serious and life threatening, such as long QT syndrome.

Before you start treatment with Dovato, it’s important to tell your doctor if you take dofetilide. They’ll likely prescribe a different treatment for your condition.

Having had an allergic reaction to Dovato or any of its ingredients

If you have had an allergic reaction to Dovato or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Dovato. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note: Before you start treatment with Dovato, it’s important to tell your doctor if these contraindications apply to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Dovato.

Dovato and alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between Dovato and alcohol. However, drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Dovato’s side effects. For example, you may experience worsened fatigue, headache, or nausea.

In addition, consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Dovato may also cause liver damage as a side effect. So, drinking alcohol during Dovato treatment may increase the risk of liver problems.

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

Drug interactions in depth

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

Certain antacids

Antacids are used to ease symptoms of indigestion and heartburn.

Interaction result: Taking Dovato with antacids that contain calcium, magnesium, or aluminum could make Dovato less effective.

Interaction explained: The calcium, magnesium, or aluminum in antacids may attach to Dovato and prevent your body from absorbing the drug. As a result, the level of Dovato in your system may be too low for the drug to be effective.

Examples of antacid drugs: Here are some antacids that may interact with Dovato:

• aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox)
• calcium carbonate/magnesium hydroxide (Rolaids)
• calcium carbonate (TUMS)

Steps you or your doctor may take: You should take Dovato at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after an antacid that contains calcium, magnesium, or aluminum. Doing so will help prevent these minerals from interfering with Dovato.

To learn more about Dovato and antacids, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you whether a specific antacid contains aluminum, calcium, or magnesium.

Certain antiseizure drugs

Antiseizure drugs are prescribed to treat seizure conditions.

Interaction result: Taking Dovato with certain antiseizure drugs could make Dovato less effective.

Interaction explained: Certain antiseizure drugs speed up the activity of an enzyme (protein) that breaks down Dovato in your system. As a result, the level of Dovato may be too low for the drug to be effective.

Examples of antiseizure drugs: Here are some antiseizure drugs that may interact with Dovato:

• carbamazepine (Equetro, Tegretol, others)
• oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar XR, Trileptal)
• topiramate (Topamax, Trokendi XR, others)
• phenobarbital (Sezaby)
• phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before starting Dovato treatment, tell your doctor about any antiseizure drugs you’re prescribed. They’ll recommend whether it’s safe for you to combine these medications.

Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe Dovato with an antiseizure drug that interacts with it. To help Dovato be more effective, they may give you an additional dose of dolutegravir (one of the active ingredients in Dovato).

To learn more about Dovato and antiseizure drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Metformin

Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza) is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes.

Interaction result: Taking Dovato with metformin may increase the risk of side effects from metformin.

Interaction explained: Dovato can affect your kidneys’ ability to remove metformin from your body. This can result in high levels of metformin in your system, increasing your risk of side effects from the drug. Examples include low blood sugar, diarrhea, and lactic acidosis (a high level of lactic acid in your blood).

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before starting Dovato treatment, tell your doctor if you’re taking metformin. They can recommend whether it’s safe to take these medications together.

If your doctor prescribes these drugs together, they may lower your metformin dosage. Doing so could help reduce your risk of side effects from metformin when the drug is taken with Dovato.

To learn more about Dovato and metformin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Dovato and other interactions

Dovato 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 Dovato.

Dovato interactions with supplements

Dovato may interact with iron or calcium supplements. These supplements may attach to Dovato and prevent your body from absorbing the drug. As a result, the level of Dovato in your system may be too low for the drug to be effective.

Before taking Dovato with either supplement, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend options for preventing iron or calcium from affecting the level of Dovato in your system.

For example, they may advise you to take Dovato and the supplements together with food. Or they might have you take Dovato at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after the iron or calcium supplement. Both options will help prevent the supplement from interfering with Dovato.

Before you start treatment with Dovato, 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.

Dovato interactions with herbs

It’s possible for Dovato to interact with the herbs below:

• St. John’s wort, which may be used to treat depression and other conditions
• echinacea, which may be used to boost your immune system

Taking either herb during Dovato treatment may decrease the effectiveness of Dovato. Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend alternatives to these herbs.

Dovato interactions with vitamins or minerals

There are no reports of vitamins interacting with Dovato. However, the minerals below could make Dovato less effective:

• iron
• calcium
• magnesium
• chromium
• aluminum

Before you start treatment with Dovato, tell your doctor and pharmacist which vitamins and minerals you take. They’ll have you take Dovato at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after any products that contain the minerals above. Doing so may help prevent these minerals from affecting the level of Dovato in your system.

It’s important to note that some multivitamins may also contain minerals. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about which multivitamin is best for you.

Dovato interactions with food

Dovato may interact with sorbitol, which is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some foods. Sorbitol is also used as an alternative to sugar to sweeten some foods and drinks. Consuming sorbitol while taking Dovato may decrease the drug’s effectiveness.

Examples of foods and beverages that contain sorbitol include:

• certain fruits, such as apples and pears
• various sugar-free gums, candies, and drinks

Because of this interaction, your doctor will likely recommend avoiding sorbitol during Dovato treatment.

If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Dovato, talk with your doctor.

Dovato and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Dovato and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Dovato and lab tests

Dovato isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

DOVATO INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been reported to interact with Dovato. Taking Dovato with cannabis products may increase the risk of side effects from Dovato.

Before you start treatment with Dovato, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

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

Dovato and health-related interactions

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Dovato. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Dovato 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 Dovato include:

• Kidney conditions: If you have a kidney condition, such as kidney failure, talk with your doctor before taking Dovato. This condition may increase your risk of side effects from Dovato. Your doctor can recommend whether Dovato is a safe treatment option.
• Liver conditions: If you have a liver condition, such as liver failure or hepatitis C, talk with your doctor before taking Dovato. The drug may cause liver problems as a side effect, which could worsen your liver condition. Talk with your doctor about whether Dovato is a safe treatment option.
• Risk of worsening of hepatitis B and lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV): Dovato has a boxed warning about the risk of worsening hepatitis B and lamivudine-resistant HBV. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For details, see the boxed warning at the top of this article.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Dovato or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Dovato. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It may not be safe to take Dovato while breastfeeding. The drug passes into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before taking Dovato. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Dovato is safe to take while pregnant. Animal studies suggest that the drug may cause pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Dovato. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

Note: If you’re prescribed Dovato during pregnancy, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects information about any pregnancy-related issues that occur with Dovato. To learn more, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the registry website or call 800-258-4263.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Dovato. 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 Dovato label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Dovato 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 Dovato 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.