Clinically Relevant Drug Interaction Between Valproate and the Oral Anticoagulant Phenprocoumon

Publication

Clinically Relevant Drug Interaction Between Valproate and the Oral Anticoagulant Phenprocoumon

Klinisch relevante Interaktion zwischen Valproat und Phenprocoumon

Journal Paper/Review - Jun 4, 2005

Felbecker Ansgar, Tettenborn Barbara, Weder Bruno

Units

Neurologie

Doi

10.1055/s-2004-834587

Citation

Felbecker A, Tettenborn B, Weder B. Clinically Relevant Drug Interaction Between Valproate and the Oral Anticoagulant Phenprocoumon - Klinisch relevante Interaktion zwischen Valproat und Phenprocoumon. Aktuelle Neurologie 2005; 2005; 32:288-290.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Aktuelle Neurologie 2005; 2005; 32

Publication Date

Jun 4, 2005

Pages

288-290

Publisher

Georg Thieme Verlag KG (Stuttgart · New York)

Brief description/objective

Introduction: A combination of the antiepileptic drug valproate and phenprocoumon as the oral anticoagulant of choice in many European countries is common, especially in patients with ischemic stroke and symptomatic epileptic seizures. Reports of interactions between these drugs in clinical pratice are rare. Case report: We describe a patient with a clinically relevant interaction between valproate and phenprocoumon. This patient received valproate as a new drug after having been treated with phenprocoumon for more than 30 months. Without a change in the phenprocoumon dose, the formerly stable values of the international normalized ratio (2.0 - 2.5) raised up to a level of 5.0. Both drugs are eliminated at least partly in the liver by the cytochrom-P450-isoenzyme CYP2C9, its activity being genetically determinated and significantly reduced in some individuals with variant alleles. Conclusion: In patients newly treated with phenprocoumon and valproate, the international normalized ratio should be followed closely to detect patients that show a clinically relevant interaction between these drugs.