Gemtesa (vibegron) interactions with medications and alcohol

Gemtesa interactions with other medications

Before starting treatment with Gemtesa, tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

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 Gemtesa. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Gemtesa.

Who should not take Gemtesa

Some people should not take Gemtesa. Certain factors or conditions might prevent your doctor from prescribing this medication due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications.

Contraindications of Gemtesa include having had a previous allergic reaction to Gemtesa or any of its ingredients. Be sure to tell your doctor if this applies to you. They can suggest other treatments that may be better options for you.

Gemtesa and alcohol

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

Drinking alcohol while taking Gemtesa may worsen some of Gemtesa’s side effects, such as nausea and headache. If you consume alcohol during Gemtesa treatment, these side effects may also be more likely to occur.

Alcohol can also worsen the condition you’re taking Gemtesa to treat. For example, alcohol can increase urination. So if you have an overactive bladder, drinking alcohol may worsen your symptoms.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Gemtesa, talk with your doctor.

Drug interactions in depth

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

Anticholinergics for overactive bladder

Anticholinergics are a group of drugs used to treat an overactive bladder. Doctors may sometimes prescribe Gemtesa with one of these drugs.

Interaction result: Taking Gemtesa with an anticholinergic for an overactive bladder can increase your risk of urinary retention (being unable to empty your bladder). This is a possible side effect of both drugs.

Interaction explained: Gemtesa and anticholinergics work in different ways to relax the muscle in your bladder and stop the bladder spasms that cause urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence. However, taking these drugs together can make the muscles in your bladder relax too much, making it difficult to urinate and empty your bladder.

Examples of anticholinergic drugs that may interact with Gemtesa:

• darifenacin (Enablex)
• fesoterodine (Toviaz)
• oxybutynin (Oxytrol)
• oxybutynin chloride (Gelnique, Ditropan XL)
• solifenacin (Vesicare)
• tolterodine (Detrol, Detrol LA)
• trospium

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Gemtesa with an anticholinergic for an overactive bladder, they’ll likely monitor you closely for side effects of these drugs.

While taking these drugs together, talk with your doctor right away if you have trouble urinating or other symptoms of urinary retention. These can include having a weak urine stream and needing to urinate again right after using the bathroom. You might also experience abdominal pain or swelling and be unable to urinate at all.

If you have questions about taking Gemtesa with an anticholinergic for an overactive bladder, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Digoxin

Digoxin, sold under the brand name Lanoxin, can treat certain heart problems, such as heart failure and certain irregular heart rhythms.

Interaction result: Taking Gemtesa with digoxin can increase your risk of digoxin side effects.

Interaction explained: Gemtesa can increase digoxin levels in your body. Higher digoxin levels are more likely to cause side effects. This is sometimes called digoxin toxicity.

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor prescribes Gemtesa with digoxin, they will likely order more frequent blood tests to monitor your digoxin levels. If needed, they may adjust your digoxin dosage.

If you have symptoms of digoxin toxicity while taking Gemtesa with digoxin, talk with your doctor right away. These symptoms can include:

• vision changes
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• confusion

Your doctor will likely check your digoxin level. Do not change your digoxin dose unless your doctor recommends this.

If you have questions about taking Gemtesa with digoxin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Gemtesa and other interactions

There are no reports of any of the following causing interactions with Gemtesa:

• specific vitamins or herbs
• certain foods
• vaccines
• medical lab tests

But that doesn’t mean interactions with these substances or activities won’t occur or be recognized in the future. If you have questions or concerns about possible Gemtesa interactions with substances not identified in this article (including possible foods to avoid when taking Gemtesa), talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

GEMTESA INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

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

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

Gemtesa and health-related interactions

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

• Severe kidney or liver problems: Gemtesa has not been studied in people with severe kidney or liver disease. The drug is safe in people with mild or moderate kidney or liver problems. But if you have a severe kidney or liver problem, talk with your doctor about whether Gemtesa is right for you.
• Trouble urinating: If you have trouble urinating due to a condition that restricts the flow of urine from your bladder, taking Gemtesa could lead to urinary retention. (With urinary retention, you are unable to empty your bladder.) Conditions that can restrict urine flow include an enlarged prostate gland and bladder stones. If you have one of these conditions, talk with your doctor about whether Gemtesa is right for you.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Gemtesa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Gemtesa. They can recommend other treatment options that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Gemtesa while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough data to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or the effects Gemtesa may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before starting Gemtesa. They can suggest treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Gemtesa is safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as congenital disabilities) when used in doses much higher than those used in people. 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 Gemtesa. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for your overactive bladder.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Gemtesa. 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 Gemtesa 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 Gemtesa 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 Gemtesa by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Summary

Gemtesa is a prescription tablet used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) in adults. Its active ingredient, vibegron, relaxes the bladder muscle to help reduce the urge to urinate too often or sudden, strong urges to urinate. While Gemtesa is generally safe, it can interact with other medications, especially the heart drug digoxin, which may require a dose change. Drinking alcohol does not cause a direct drug reaction, but it can make OAB symptoms like bladder leaks worse. Before starting Gemtesa, tell your doctor if you have severe kidney or liver problems or trouble emptying your bladder, as Gemtesa could lead to urinary retention (being unable to urinate).