Page 39 - PBA Medicine list - edition 5_SW_Neat

By Moses and Natalie Tawdrous

Generic Name: Griseofulvin

Brand names: Grisovin

Side effects/precautions:
Headache, nausea, peripheral neuritis, mental confusion, lethargy, fatigue, drowsiness, vertigo, GI
upset (e.g. vomiting, diarrhea), bleeding, oral thrush, hypersensitivity (e.g. skin rash, urticaria),
erythema.
Interactions:

Coumarin anticoagulants, barbiturate, sedatives, phenylbutazone (NSAID), alcohol, oral
contraceptives. Griseofulvin reported to interfere with efficacy of oral contraceptives.
Amenorrhoea, bleeding and failure of contraceptive therapy have been reported when concurrently
used with griseofulvin. Griseofulvin may decrease response to coumarin anticoagulants.
Enhancement of effects of alcohol by griseofulvin been reported.

Reasons for interactions:

Barbiturates may reduce the effectiveness of griseofulvin by interference with the GI absorption of
griseofulvin. Concurrent use of substances such as phenylbutazone, sedative and hypnotic drugs
which induce metabolising enzymes should be avoided as the blood level, and hence efficacy, of
griseofulvin may be reduced.

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