METHYLERGONOVINE MALEATE (Generic for METHERGINE)

Methylergonovine Maleate 0.2mg, Oral tablet

Tobacco

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Do not smoke or use tobacco products while taking this medication. Smoking while taking this medication increases the risk for serious side effects. Contact your care team if you experience new or worsening side effects.

· Notes for Professionals: Advise patients to avoid smoking tobacco while taking ergot alkaloids. Concurrent use of vasoconstrictors, such as nicotine, with ergot alkaloids may result in enhanced vasoconstriction. Nicotine acts indirectly as a sympathomimetic agent by releasing catecholamines, potentially resulting in effects such as hypertension, coronary spasm, coronary ischemia, or cardiac arrhythmias, which may be additive with ergot alkaloids.

Methylergonovine Maleate 0.2mg, Oral tablet

Grapefruit juice

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Taking grapefruit juice with Methylergonovine might increase the risk of chest pain, high blood pressure, nausea, palpitations, or other serious side effects, like pain, numbness or reduced circulation to the hands, feet or legs. It is best to use caution when taking grapefruit juice with Methylergonovine to reduce the chance of Methylergonovine-related side effects.

· Notes for Professionals: Methylergonovine should not interact with most food. However, the risk of ergot toxicity (e.g., vasospasm leading to cerebral ischemia, peripheral ischemia and/or other serious effects) is potentially increased by the use of CYP3A4 inhibitors. Grapefruit juice inhibits the cytochrome P-450 3A4 isozyme in the gut wall. Grapefruit juice contains furanocoumarins that are metabolized by CYP3A4 to reactive intermediates. These intermediates form a covalent bond to the active site of the CYP3A4 enzyme, causing irreversible inactivation (mechanism-based inhibition). Consequently, CYP3A4 activity in the gut wall is inhibited until de novo synthesis returns the enzyme to its previous level. Therefore, grapefruit juice may decrease ergot alkaloid metabolism via CYP3A4.According to the manufacturer of methylergonovine, caution should be used when coadministering with grapefruit juice. Elderly patients have the greatest possibility of ingesting grapefruit and interacting medications and are the most vulnerable to the adverse clinical consequences.

<b>DISCLAIMER:</b><em> This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.</em>