Heart disease patients with COVID-19 are often treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) to prevent progression to severe disease.
However, the COVID-19 drug can interact with some previously prescribed heart medications.
In a study from Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, scientists found drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between Paxlovid and commonly used heart medications.
Paxlovid received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2021 as an oral antiviral agent for the treatment of symptomatic, non-hospitalized adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who are at high risk for progression to severe disease.
Patients with heart disease and other risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and smoking make up a large portion of the high-risk population for whom Paxlovid is beneficial.
Paxlovid has been shown to be very effective in patients with existing heart disease, but it has significant drug interactions with commonly used heart medications.
In the study, the team used existing knowledge and data regarding how therapies like Paxlovid typically react with other medications
Five of the most important heart drug interactions with Paxlovid to be aware of include:
Anti-arrhythmic agents
Anti-arrhythmic agents are used to manage abnormal heart rhythm. Many of these drugs are metabolized in a way that increases plasma levels when co-administered with Paxlovid.
While it may be possible to start Paxlovid after 2-2.5-day temporary discontinuation of the anti-arrhythmic agents, this may not be feasible from a practical standpoint.
Clinicians are advised to consider alternative COVID-19 therapies and avoid co-administration of these agents with Paxlovid. Sotalol, another anti-arrhythmic agent, is renally cleared and does not interact with Paxlovid.
Antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants
Antiplatelet agents are used for the treatment of coronary artery disease, particularly if a patient has received a stent. Aspirin and prasugrel are safe to co-administer with Paxlovid.
There is an increased risk of blood clots when Paxlovid is given alongside clopidogrel and an increased risk of bleeding when given with ticagrelor.
When possible, these agents should be switched to prasugrel. If patients have contraindication to taking prasugrel, then co-administration of Paxlovid should be avoided and alternative COVID-19 therapies should be considered.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners used to treat or prevent blood clots) such as warfarin may be co-administered with Paxlovid but require close monitoring of clotting factors in bloodwork.
The plasma levels of all direct oral anticoagulants increase when co-administered with Paxlovid, therefore dose adjustment or temporary discontinuation and use of alternative anticoagulants may be required.
Certain statins
Co-administration of simvastatin or lovastatin with Paxlovid can lead to increased plasma levels and subsequent muscle weakness (myopathy) and rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which the breakdown of muscle tissue releases a damaging protein into the bloodstream.
These agents should be stopped prior to initiation of Paxlovid. A dose reduction of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin is reasonable when co-administered with Paxlovid. The other statins are considered safe when given along with Paxlovid.
Ranolazine
Plasma concentration of ranolazine, used to treat angina and other heart-related chest pain, is exponentially increased in the presence of CPY450 inhibitors like Paxlovid, thereby increasing the risk of clinically significant QT prolongation and torsade de pointes (a type of arrhythmia). Co-administration of Paxlovid is therefore contraindicated.
Temporary discontinuation of ranolazine is advised if prescribing Paxlovid.
Immunosuppressive agents
The plasma levels of immunosuppressive agents prescribed for patients who have undergone heart transplantation exponentially rise to toxic levels when co-administered with Paxlovid.
Temporary reduction of dosing of immunosuppressive agents would require frequent monitoring and be logistically difficult. Therefore, alternative COVID-19 therapies should be considered in these patients.
The researchers conclude awareness and availability of other COVID-19 therapies enable clinicians to offer alternative treatment options to patients who are unable to take Paxlovid due to drug interactions.
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The study was conducted by Sarju Ganatra et al and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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