Capecitabine-phenytoin interaction is dose dependent with an unexpected time course

Anticancer Drugs. 2011 Nov;22(10):1027-9. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0b013e32834a6c69.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to further analyze the drug interaction between capecitabine and phenytoin with special emphasis on magnitude, timing, and the dose effect. A single patient had multiple phenytoin levels at various doses of capecitabine. Phenytoin levels were subjected to analysis of variance and the dose effect was approached using a multiple comparison test. All phenytoin levels meeting the criteria for steady state were subjected to box plot analysis. Analysis of 35 phenytoin levels over a 25-month period demonstrated a statistically significant interaction between the medications. The interaction onset was delayed by 4 weeks and persisted up to 9 weeks after capecitabine dose increases or decreases. The magnitude of interaction was directly proportional to the capecitabine dosage. We concluded that capecitabine caused a marked increase in phenytoin levels that was capecitine dose dependent, with a delayed time course not predicted by phenytoin kinetics, suggesting a novel interaction mechanism. The magnitude and complexity of this interaction suggest that alternate antiepileptic medications should be used in combination with capecitabine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Capecitabine
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Interactions*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / analogs & derivatives*
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Phenytoin / blood
  • Phenytoin / pharmacology
  • Phenytoin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Phenytoin
  • Capecitabine
  • Fluorouracil