Kesimpta interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Kesimpta interactions with other medications  

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

When to avoid Kesimpta

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

Current hepatitis B infection

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Kesimpta for people with a current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Your doctor will have you complete lab tests to check for any current or ongoing HBV infection before starting Kesimpta. They will likely treat your current HBV infection first before starting Kesimpta.

Talk with your doctor about your medical history, including whether you have previously contracted HBV infection. Using Kesimpta may cause your HBV infection to become active again. This may be due to Kesimpta weakening your immune system. Your doctor can help determine whether Kesimpta is the right treatment for you.

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

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

Kesimpta interaction with alcohol

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

This is because drinking alcohol can worsen the condition you’re receiving Kesimpta to treat. For example, if you have multiple sclerosis, drinking alcohol may worsen your symptoms, such as dizziness, fatigue, and vision problems.

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

Drug interactions in depth

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

Immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressants are drugs that weaken the immune system. They can used for many conditions, including autoimmune diseases and inflammation.

Interaction result: Using Kesimpta with immunosuppressants can increase your risk of developing an infection.

Interaction explained: Kesimpta and immunosuppressants can both weaken the immune system. Using both medications together will further weaken your immune system. This makes it even harder for your body to fight off infections. As a result, you are more likely to develop an infection.

Examples of immunosuppressants: Here are some immunosuppressants that may interact with Kesimpta:

• prednisone (Rayos)
• methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• methotrexate (Trexall)
• adalimumab (Humira)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Talk with your doctor about all your medications. This includes any prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. They can help determine whether your current medications are safe to use with Kesimpta. They may also recommend closely monitoring during an infection if you are using both Kesimpta and other immunosuppressants.

Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about using Kesimpta with other immunosuppressants.

Kesimpta and other interactions

Kesimpta 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 Kesimpta.

Kesimpta interactions with supplements

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

Kesimpta and herbs

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

Kesimpta and vitamins

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

Kesimpta and food

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

Kesimpta interactions with vaccines

Vaccination with live vaccines isn’t recommended during Kesimpta treatment. A live vaccine contains live but weakened pieces of the virus or bacterium it’s meant to defend against. When your immune system is healthy, live vaccines usually won’t cause infection.

But Kesimpta works by weakening your immune system. So if you get a live vaccine, your immune system may not be able to fight the virus or bacterium. This may cause you to become sick or develop symptoms of the illness the vaccine is meant to prevent.

Examples of live vaccines to avoid during Kesimpta treatment include:

• measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• chickenpox
• flu vaccine (nasal spray form)

You should complete any recommended live vaccines at least 4 weeks before starting Kesimpta. You should also complete any non-live vaccine at least 2 weeks before starting Kesimpta if possible. Non-live vaccines, such as shingles or pneumonia, don’t contain live viruses or bacteria. Receiving this vaccine early will help reduce the risk of interactions between Kesimpta and vaccines. It will also ensure that the vaccines will work well to help prevent future infections.

Before starting Kesimpta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any vaccines you may need.

Kesimpta and lab tests

Kesimpta isn’t known to interact with any lab tests based on clinical studies. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

KESIMPTA AND CANNABIS OR CBD

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

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

Kesimpta and health-related interactions

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

• Current infection: Any current or ongoing infection may worsen once you start Kesimpta. This is because Kesimpta weakens your immune system. For this reason, your doctor will likely treat any current infections you may have before starting Kesimpta. Talk with your doctor about any current infections you may have, including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, before starting Kesimpta. Be sure to include any previous history of HBV infection. See the “When to avoid Kesimpta” section for additional information regarding Kesimpta’s interaction with HBV infection.
• Recent vaccinations: Vaccinations may interact with Kesimpta. Using Kesimpta near the time a vaccination was given may affect how well the vaccination works. In some cases, you may even develop an infection. Talk with your doctor about your vaccination history before starting Kesimpta. See the “Kesimpta interactions with vaccines” in the “Kesimpta and other interactions” section for additional information regarding this topic.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Kesimpta or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Kesimpta. 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 Kesimpta while breastfeeding. There isn’t any data from clinical trials to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Kesimpta may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before using Kesimpta. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed a child who is breastfed.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Kesimpta is safe to use while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may raise the risk of having a 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 Kesimpta. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you. There is also a registry for people who took Kesimpta during their pregnancy. For additional information or to register, please visit this website.

Preventing interactions

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