July 1, 2024
Keio University, Faculty of Pharmacy
A research group from the Keio University, Faculty of Pharmacy, including collaborative researcher Tomo Mitsuboshi and senior assistant professor Shungo Imai, has revealed that the concomitant use of the injectable antibacterial drug ceftriaxone and the gastric acid secretion inhibitor lansoprazole may increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac arrest during the period of their combined use.
Ceftriaxone is an injectable antibacterial drug used as a first-line treatment for various infections in adults and children, while lansoprazole is widely used for gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric ulcers and for preventing side effects from analgesics. Due to their frequent use, there are cases of unintentional concomitant administration. It is presumed that when the serum concentrations of both drugs exceed a certain level, the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac arrest increases, potentially leading to a very serious condition.
This study utilized a Japanese medical institution database constructed by JMDC Inc. (Tokyo) to investigate approximately 100,000 cases of ceftriaxone use and a control group using sulbactam/ampicillin. The study revealed that patients who were concomitantly administered oral or injectable lansoprazole and ceftriaxone had a higher risk of ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac arrest during the administration period. On the other hand, an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac arrest was not observed in most combinations involving the control group's sulbactam/ampicillin or proton pump inhibitors (gastric acid secretion inhibitors) other than lansoprazole. This research is thought to have further raised concerns about the previously suspected interaction between ceftriaxone and lansoprazole, indicating the need for prospective studies to avoid their concomitant use.
The results of this study were published in the online edition of the international academic journal "Journal of Infection" on June 17, 2024.
For the full press release, please see below.