Gemtesa interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Gemtesa interactions with other medications  

Before you start treatment with Gemtesa, 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 Gemtesa interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Gemtesa 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 Gemtesa. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Gemtesa. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

When to avoid Gemtesa

There are some people who should not take Gemtesa. In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Gemtesa due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Gemtesa include:

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

If you have had an allergic reaction to Gemtesa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Gemtesa. 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 Gemtesa, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Gemtesa.

Gemtesa interaction with alcohol

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

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Gemtesa’s side effects. For example, you may experience:

• nausea
• headache
• dizziness

If you consume alcohol during Gemtesa treatment, these side effects may be more likely to occur.

Alcohol can also worsen the condition you’re receiving Gemtesa to treat. For example, alcohol can increase urination. So if you have an overactive bladder, drinking alcohol may worsen your symptoms.

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

Drug interactions in depth

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

Anticholinergics for overactive bladder

Anticholinergics are a group of drugs used to treat overactive bladder. Doctors may sometimes prescribe Gemtesa with one of these drugs.

Interaction result: Taking Gemtesa with an anticholinergic for overactive bladder can raise your risk of urinary retention (being unable to empty your bladder). This is a possible side effect of both drugs.

Interaction explained: Gemtesa and anticholinergics work in different ways to relax the muscle in your bladder. This stops the bladder spasms that cause urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence. However, taking these drugs together can make the muscle in your bladder relax too much. This can make it difficult to urinate and empty your bladder.

Examples of anticholinergic drugs: Here are some anticholinergic drugs that may interact with Gemtesa:

• darifenacin (Enablex)
• fesoterodine (Toviaz)
• oxybutynin (Oxytrol)
• oxybutynin chloride (Gelnique, Ditropan XL)
• solifenacin (Vesicare)
• tolterodine (Detrol, Detrol LA)
• trospium

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Gemtesa with an anticholinergic for overactive bladder, they’ll likely monitor you closely for side effects of these drugs.

While taking these drugs together, talk with your doctor right away if you have trouble urinating or other symptoms of urinary retention. These can include having a weak urine stream and needing to urinate again right after using the bathroom. You might also experience abdominal pain or swelling and be unable to urinate at all.

If you have questions about taking Gemtesa with an anticholinergic for overactive bladder, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Digoxin

Digoxin, sold under the brand name Lanoxin, can treat certain heart problems, such as heart failure and certain irregular heart rhythms.

Interaction result: Taking Gemtesa with digoxin can raise your risk of digoxin side effects.

Interaction explained: Gemtesa can increase the level of digoxin in your body. Higher levels of digoxin are more likely to cause side effects. This is sometimes called digoxin toxicity.

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Gemtesa with digoxin, they will likely order more frequent blood tests to monitor your digoxin levels. If needed, they may adjust your dose of digoxin.

If you have symptoms of digoxin toxicity while taking Gemtesa with digoxin, talk with your doctor right away. These symptoms can include:

• vision changes
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• confusion

Your doctor will likely check your digoxin level. Don’t change your digoxin dose unless your doctor recommends this.

If you have questions about taking Gemtesa with digoxin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Gemtesa and other interactions

Gemtesa 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 Gemtesa.

Gemtesa and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Gemtesa and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Gemtesa. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Gemtesa treatment.

Gemtesa and vitamins

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

Gemtesa and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Gemtesa. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Gemtesa, talk with your doctor.

Gemtesa and vaccines

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

Gemtesa and lab tests

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

GEMTESA INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

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

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

Gemtesa and health-related interactions

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

• Severe kidney or liver problems: Gemtesa has not been studied in people with severe liver or kidney problems. The drug is safe in people with mild or moderate kidney or liver problems. But if you have a severe kidney or liver problem, talk with your doctor about whether Gemtesa is right for you.
• Trouble urinating: If you have trouble urinating due to a condition that restricts the flow of urine out of your bladder, taking Gemtesa could cause urinary retention. (With urinary retention, you are unable to empty your bladder.) Conditions that can restrict urine flow include enlarged prostate gland and bladder stones. If you have one of these conditions, talk with your doctor about whether Gemtesa is right for you.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Gemtesa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Gemtesa. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Gemtesa while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Gemtesa may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before using Gemtesa. 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 Gemtesa is safe to use while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) when used in doses much higher than those used in people. 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 Gemtesa. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Gemtesa. 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 Gemtesa 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 Gemtesa 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 Gemtesa 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.