Aptiom interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Aptiom interactions with other drugs

Before you start treatment with Aptiom, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

To learn whether Aptiom interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Aptiom 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 Aptiom. Keep in mind this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Aptiom. Some of these interactions are described in detail in “Drug interactions in depth.”

When to avoid Aptiom 

Sometimes, certain factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Aptiom due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications.

The contraindications of Aptiom include:

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

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aptiom or any of its ingredients or to a similar drug called oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), your doctor will likely not prescribe Aptiom. 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 Aptiom, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Aptiom.

Aptiom and alcohol

There are no known interactions between Aptiom and alcohol. However, if you drink alcohol, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit it during Aptiom treatment.

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

• nausea
• vomiting
• headache
• sleepiness
• dizziness
• problems with balance or coordination
• blurry vision

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

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

Drug interactions in depth  

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

Birth control pills

Taking Aptiom with birth control pills can make the birth control less effective at preventing pregnancy.

Here are some birth control pills that may interact with Aptiom:

• desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol (Enskyce, Kariva)
• drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Loryna, Yaz)
• ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Junel, Balziva)
• levonorgestrel/ethinylestradiol (Seasonique, Falmina, Lessina)

Steps you or your doctor may take

If you take a birth control pill, your doctor will likely recommend switching to a different form of birth control that Aptiom does not affect. You can talk with your doctor about other methods that may be a good choice for you.

If you take Aptiom with a birth control pill, you should use an extra nonhormonal form of contraception, such as condoms, to help prevent pregnancy.

If you have questions about taking Aptiom with birth control pills, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Certain other seizure medications

Certain seizure medications can increase the action of enzymes in your body that help break down Aptiom. Taking Aptiom with one of these medications can make your body break down Aptiom faster than usual. This can lower the level of Aptiom in your body, which can make it less effective at treating seizures.

Here are some other seizure medications that may interact with Aptiom:

• carbamazepine (Tegretol, others)
• phenobarbital (Sezaby)
• phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
• primidone (Mysoline)

Steps you or your doctor may take

If you take Aptiom with one of these seizure medications, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of Aptiom that’s higher than usual.

If you have questions about taking Aptiom with other seizure medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Certain statins

Statins are a group of medications used to treat high cholesterol.

Aptiom can increase the action of an enzyme that helps break down certain statins called cytochrome p450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Taking Aptiom with one of these statins can make your body break down the statin faster than usual. This can lower the level of the statin in your body, which can make it less effective.

Here are some statins that may interact with Aptiom:

• atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• lovastatin (Altoprev)
• simvastatin (Zocor)

Steps you or your doctor may take

If your doctor prescribes Aptiom with a statin, they’ll likely check your cholesterol levels more often than usual. If the statin doesn’t seem to be working as well to lower your cholesterol, your doctor may increase your dosage of the statin.

If you have questions about taking Aptiom with a statin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Aptiom and other interactions 

Aptiom may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or lab tests.

Here are some potential interactions with Aptiom. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all possible Aptiom interactions.

Aptiom and supplements

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

Aptiom and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Aptiom. 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 Aptiom treatment.

Aptiom and vitamins

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

Aptiom and food

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

Aptiom and vaccines

There are no known interactions between Aptiom and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to check whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Aptiom interactions with lab tests

Aptiom is not known to interact with lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

APTIOM INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Aptiom. However, Aptiom and cannabis can cause some similar side effects, such as drowsiness and dizziness. So if you use cannabis or cannabis products with Aptiom, you may have a raised risk of these side effects, or they may be worse.

As with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Aptiom. The impact of cannabis may also affect how well you stick to your Aptiom treatment plan.

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

Aptiom and health-related interactions

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

• Kidney problems: Your kidneys help remove Aptiom from your body. If you have a kidney problem, Aptiom can build up in your body. This can raise your risk of side effects, so your doctor may prescribe a dosage of Aptiom that’s lower than usual.
• Liver problems: Aptiom can sometimes cause liver problems. If you already have a liver problem, talk with your doctor about whether Aptiom is right for you.
• Mental health conditions: Aptiom can increase your risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. If you have a mental health condition or have a history of one, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. Talk with your doctor about whether Aptiom is right for you. If you take Aptiom, tell your doctor right away if you have any unusual changes in your mood, thoughts, or behavior.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aptiom or any of its ingredients or to a similar drug called oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), your doctor will likely not prescribe Aptiom. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It is unknown whether it’s safe to use Aptiom while breastfeeding. The drug passes into breast milk, but it is unknown what effects Aptiom may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before using Aptiom. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed a child other than breastfeeding.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Aptiom is safe to use 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 Aptiom. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

Preventing interactions  

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Aptiom. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reaching out to them before starting treatment is a helpful first step. For example, it’s important that you 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 listTrusted Source, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Aptiom label and other paperworkTrusted Source that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. The paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Aptiom 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 Aptiom 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.