Ofev interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

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

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you or drugs not to take with Ofev, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Ofev. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Ofev. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

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

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

• nausea and vomiting
• headache
• diarrhea

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

If you consume alcohol during Ofev treatment, these side effects may be more likely to occur. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Ofev, talk with your doctor.

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

Certain antibiotics

Ofev can interact with certain antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections.

Interaction result: Taking certain antibiotics with Ofev can increase your risk of Ofev side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, raised blood pressure, and liver problems.

Interaction explained: Certain antibiotics reduce the action of two proteins that help remove Ofev from your body. These proteins are called cytochrome p450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp).

Taking antibiotics that reduce the action of these proteins can slow the removal of Ofev from your body, causing levels of Ofev to build up. A higher level of Ofev in your body is more likely to cause side effects.

Examples of antibiotic drugs: Here are some antibiotics that may interact with Ofev:

• clarithromycin
• erythromycin (Ery-Tab, others)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If you need treatment for a bacterial infection while you’re taking Ofev, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic that doesn’t interact with Ofev.

If your doctor prescribes one of the antibiotics listed above with Ofev, they’ll likely monitor you more closely for Ofev side effects. For example, they may check your blood pressure and liver function more often.

If you take one of these antibiotics with Ofev, tell your doctor if you have any new or increased Ofev side effects, such as nausea or diarrhea. Your doctor may temporarily reduce your Ofev dose. Or they may have you stop Ofev temporarily while you take the course of antibiotics.

If you have questions about taking antibiotics with Ofev, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Blood thinners

Ofev can interact with anticoagulants, also referred to as blood thinners. These medications are prescribed to treat and help prevent blood clots.

Interaction result: Taking Ofev with a blood thinner can raise your risk of bleeding.

Interaction explained: Ofev and blood thinners can both raise your risk of bleeding as a side effect. So taking these drugs together can raise your risk of bleeding even further.

Examples of blood thinner drugs: Here are some blood thinners that may interact with Ofev:

• apixaban (Eliquis)
• dalteparin (Fragmin)
• rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
• warfarin (Jantoven)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Ofev with a blood thinner, they’ll likely monitor you closely for bleeding. Tell your doctor right away if you have any unusual bleeding, for example:

• bruising more easily than usual
• nosebleeds or bleeding gums
• taking longer than usual to stop bleeding after an injury
• coughing up or vomiting blood
• blood in your urine

If needed, your doctor may lower your dosage of the blood thinner.

If you have questions about taking Ofev with a blood thinner, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

NSAIDs

Ofev can interact with NSAIDs, which are used to reduce inflammation (swelling) and relieve pain.

Interaction result: Taking Ofev with NSAIDs can raise your risk of gastrointestinal (GI) perforations (tears or holes in the walls of your stomach or intestines).

Interaction explained: Ofev and NSAIDs can both cause GI perforation. This is a rare side effect of both drugs. Taking the drugs together can raise your risk of this side effect.

Examples of NSAIDs: Here are some NSAIDs that may interact with Ofev:

• aspirin
• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• meloxicam
• naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor may avoid prescribing Ofev with an NSAID if you also have other risk factors for GI perforation. These include having diverticular disease, such as diverticulitis, or recent surgery in your abdomen.

You should check with your doctor before taking over-the-counter NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen with Ofev.

If your doctor prescribes Ofev with an NSAID, they’ll likely monitor you for GI perforation. If you have symptoms of this side effect, consult your doctor right away. You may need emergency medical treatment.

Symptoms of GI perforation can include:

• severe abdominal pain
• abdominal swelling
• nausea and vomiting
• fever and chills

If you have questions about taking Ofev with an NSAID, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

For details about Ofev’s side effects, see this article.

Ofev 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 Ofev.

Ofev interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Ofev, 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.

Ofev interactions with herbs

Doctors will typically recommend you avoid taking St. John’s wort with Ofev. St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that may be used to treat depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort may speed up the activity of two proteins in your body called CYP3A4 and P-gp. These proteins help remove Ofev from your body.

By speeding up these proteins, St. John’s wort can cause Ofev to be removed from your body more quickly. This may lead to a low level of Ofev in your system. If the level of Ofev in your system is too low, the drug may not work to treat your lung condition.

Your doctor may be able to suggest a treatment option other than St. John’s wort.

If you have questions about taking other herbs with Ofev, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can advise if there are other products not to take with Ofev.

Ofev and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Ofev. 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 Ofev.

Ofev interactions with food

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with Ofev. Specifically, grapefruit products can slow the process of your body breaking down Ofev. This raises the level of Ofev in your body, which increases your risk of side effects from Ofev. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend not consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking the drug.

As well, Ofev often causes digestive side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Consuming certain foods and drinks can make these side effects worse.

If you have digestive side effects with Ofev, it may help to avoid dairy products and rich, greasy, spicy, and high fiber foods. It may also help to avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages, such as coffee. For details about Ofev and alcohol, see the “Ofev interaction with alcohol” section above.

If you’d like to learn more about consuming certain foods or beverages during treatment with Ofev, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to this article about foods to avoid while taking Ofev.

Ofev and vaccines

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

Ofev and lab tests

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

OFEV INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

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

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

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

• Smoking: Smoking can lower the level of Ofev in your body, which can make Ofev less effective at treating your lung condition. Smoking can also worsen the lung condition you take Ofev to treat. Additionally, smoking can raise your risk of heart attack or stroke, which are possible side effects of Ofev. If you smoke, talk with your doctor about methods that can help you quit.
• Heart disease: Ofev can rarely cause blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you have heart disease, you may have an increased risk of these side effects. Talk with your doctor about whether Ofev is the right treatment option for you.
• Blood clotting problems: Ofev can raise your risk of bleeding. If you already have blood clotting problems, you may have a higher risk of bleeding when taking Ofev. Talk with your doctor about whether this medication is right for you.
• Liver problems: If you have a liver problem, Ofev can build up in your body. This can raise your risk of Ofev side effects and may worsen your liver problem. If you have a mild liver problem, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of Ofev that’s lower than usual. But if you have moderate or severe liver problems, your doctor likely will not prescribe Ofev. Your doctor will likely recommend a different medication instead.
• Kidney problems: While taking Ofev, you may have protein in your urine, which can be a sign of kidney problems. If you have a kidney problem, taking Ofev could make it worse. Ofev has not been studied in people with severe kidney problems. If you have a kidney problem, talk with your doctor about whether Ofev is safe for you.
• History of diverticular disease: Ofev can rarely cause GI perforation. If you have a history of diverticular disease, such as diverticulitis, you may have an increased risk of this side effect. Your doctor can help determine whether Ofev is right for you.
• Recent abdominal surgery: Ofev can rarely cause GI perforation. If you have recently had surgery in your abdomen, you may have an increased risk of this side effect. Talk with your doctor about whether Ofev is right for you.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Ofev or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Ofev. 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 take Ofev while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Ofev may have on a child who is breastfed. However, because the drug could cause serious side effects in a breastfed child, your doctor will likely recommend that you do not breastfeed while taking Ofev. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: Ofev is not safe to take while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or 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 Ofev. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you. If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Ofev and for at least 3 months after your last dose.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Ofev. 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, smoke, 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 Ofev 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 Ofev 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 Ofev 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.