Traditional concerns with drug interactions have focused on oxidative metabolism via CYP isoenzymes. Recent research has demonstrated that other important mechanisms for affecting drug disposition involving the P-gp and OATP transporters must also be considered when evaluating the potential for drug interactions. To date, these three systems are considered to have the most potential to alter normal drug concentrations. Such changes are well documented for numerous drugs of different therapeutic classes. The CNS efficacy of HIV protease inhibitors is seriously compromised by P-gp transport efflux mechanisms, which prevent accumulation of these drugs within the brain.[24] The limited oral bioavailability of HIV protease inhibitors and paclitaxel can also be explained by increased efflux from intestinal mucosal epithelium through P-gp transport mechanisms. Furthermore, drugs that modulate the activity of P-gp and CYP isoenzymes (rifampicin, erythromycin and ketoconazole) are known to affect the bioavailability of coadministered drugs. Interference with OATP can result in abnormal plasma drug concentrations, and some alterations in bioavailability may be the result of a combination of changes in P-gp, OATP and CYP processes.
Fexofenadine, the active metabolite of terfenadine, is not significantly metabolised by CYP isoenzymes, but has been shown to interact with transporters such as OATP and/or P-gp. Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated elevated blood concentrations of fexofenadine in volunteers coadministered fexofenadine and erythromycin, or fexofenadine and ketoconazole. A preliminary human study showed that grapefruit juice significantly decreased the bioavailability of orally administered fexofenadine. Thus, even drugs that do not undergo oxidative metabolism via CYP may have their plasma concentrations changed by other mechanisms such as those that act through P-gp or OATP. The clinical significance of these findings needs further investigation.
However, control of antihistamine bioavailability by P-gp and OATP is not a class effect for H1-receptor antagonists. For example, the bioavailability of desloratadine, a new H1-receptor antagonist, was unaltered by coadministration of erythromycin, ketoconazole[60] or grapefruit juice, according to preliminary reports. These data are consistent with minimal interaction of desloratadine with P-gp or OATP.