Lialda interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Lialda, 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 Lialda interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Lialda and other interactions” section below.)

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 Lialda. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Lialda. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

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

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

If you have had an allergic reaction to Lialda, any of Lialda’s ingredients, or similar drugs called salicylates or aminosalicylates, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lialda. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better for you.

Examples of salicylates and aminosalicylates include aspirin, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), olsalazine (Dipentum), and balsalazide (Colazal).

Note: Before you start treatment with Lialda, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Lialda.

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

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some Lialda side effects. For example, you may experience:

• nausea
• vomiting
• headache

In addition, consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Lialda may also cause raised liver enzymes as a side effect. (For details about Lialda’s side effects, see this article.) Raised liver enzymes can sometimes be a sign of liver damage. So, drinking alcohol during Lialda treatment may increase your risk of liver problems.

Alcohol can also worsen the condition you’re receiving Lialda to treat. For example, if you have ulcerative colitis, drinking alcohol may worsen your symptoms.

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

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

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Lialda can interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which relieve pain and reduce inflammation (swelling).

Interaction result: Taking Lialda with NSAIDs can raise your risk of kidney problems.

Interaction explained: Lialda and NSAIDs can both cause kidney problems, so taking these drugs together can raise your risk of this side effect. (For details about Lialda’s side effects, see this article.)

Examples of NSAIDs: Here are some NSAIDs that may interact with Lialda:

• aspirin
• celecoxib (Celebrex)
• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

Steps you or your doctor may take: You should avoid taking an NSAID with Lialda unless your doctor recommends it. If your doctor prescribes Lialda with an NSAID, they may monitor your kidney function.

Keep in mind that certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications may contain NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking these with Lialda.

If you have questions about taking Lialda with an NSAID, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Certain antibiotics

Lialda can interact with certain antibiotics, which are drugs that treat bacterial infections.

Interaction result: Taking Lialda with certain antibiotics can raise your risk of kidney problems.

Interaction explained: Certain antibiotics can affect kidney function. Because Lialda can also cause kidney problems, taking these drugs together can raise your risk of this side effect. (For details about Lialda’s side effects, see this article.)

Examples of antibiotic drugs: Here are some antibiotics that may interact with Lialda:

• clindamycin (Cleocin)
• neomycin
• sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Lialda with certain antibiotics, they may monitor your kidney function.

If you have questions about taking Lialda with an antibiotic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan)

Lialda can interact with azathioprine, an immunosuppressant medication that doctors sometimes prescribe to treat ulcerative colitis.

Interaction result: Taking Lialda with azathioprine can raise your risk of blood cell problems. These problems can include having low levels of the following:

• white blood cells (cells that fight infection)
• red blood cells (cells that carry oxygen)
• platelets (cells that help the blood clot)

Interaction explained: Lialda can prevent your body from breaking down azathioprine as well as usual. So, taking these drugs together can increase the amount of azathioprine in your body. This can raise your risk of azathioprine side effects, especially blood cell problems.

Steps you or your doctor may take: If you take Lialda with azathioprine, your doctor will likely monitor your blood cell counts.

Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of blood cell problems while taking these drugs together. These symptoms may include:

• fever
• infection
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• unusual bruising or bleeding

If you have questions about taking Lialda with azathioprine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Lialda 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 Lialda.

Lialda interactions with supplements

Drugs can interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Lialda and herbs

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

Lialda and vitamins

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

Lialda and food

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

Lialda and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Lialda and vaccines. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Lialda interactions with lab tests

Lialda may interfere with the results of certain lab tests. Taking the medication may cause falsely raised results in certain urine tests for normetanephrine. (Normetanephrine is a substance your body makes when it breaks down norepinephrine.)

Because of this, if you have this lab test, it’s important to tell the person carrying out the test that you’re taking Lialda.

For additional information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

LIALDA INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

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

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

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

• Older age: If you are age 65 years or older, you may have a raised risk of side effects, such as blood cell problems, kidney problems, or liver problems with Lialda. Your doctor may monitor you more closely while you are taking Lialda.
• Kidney or liver problems: If you have kidney or liver problems, Lialda could make these worse. Your doctor will typically monitor your kidney and liver function while you are taking Lialda.
• Intestinal blockage. If you have a blockage or narrowing in your stomach or intestines, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Lialda. This is because the tablet may not pass through your digestive system correctly, which could make it less effective. (Lialda comes as a delayed-release tablet that releases the medication after it has passed through your stomach and upper intestine.) You can talk with your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
• Skin conditions: If you have a skin condition such as eczema, Lialda can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, raising your risk of sunburn. While taking Lialda, you should protect your skin from sunlight using clothing and sunscreen.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Lialda, any of its ingredients, or similar drugs called salicylates or aminosalicylates, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lialda. For more information, see the section above called “When to avoid Lialda.”
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether using Lialda while breastfeeding is safe. The drug passes into breast milk and may cause diarrhea in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before using Lialda. They can discuss treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Lialda is safe to use while pregnant. Animal studies did not find any harmful effects when the drug was given to pregnant animals. 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 Lialda. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

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