Xcopri Interactions: Alcohol, Medications, and Others

Before you start taking Xcopri, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Xcopri interacts with supplements, herbs, and vitamins, see the “Are there other interactions with Xcopri?” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The table below lists drugs that may interact with Xcopri. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Xcopri. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.

* See the “Drug interactions explained” section below to learn more.

Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Xcopri. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Xcopri for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Xcopri.

If you have familial short QT syndrome. Familial short QT syndrome is a rare inherited condition that can cause life threatening irregular heartbeats. With this syndrome, you have an irregular heart rhythm seen on an electrocardiogram (EKG) called a short QT interval. If you have this syndrome, your doctor will likely not prescribe Xcopri. This is because Xcopri can also cause a short QT interval, which could worsen your condition. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction. If you have had an allergic reaction to Xcopri or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Xcopri. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.

Before you start taking Xcopri, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Xcopri is safe for you to take.

Consuming alcohol may raise your risk of having a seizure, even if you’re taking Xcopri.

Xcopri and alcohol can also cause some similar side effects, such as sleepiness, dizziness, and confusion. Both can also cause problems with coordination, balance, and concentration. You may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during your Xcopri treatment.

Your doctor will likely recommend avoiding alcohol or limiting how much alcohol you drink while taking Xcopri.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol while taking Xcopri, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Xcopri.

Interaction with certain forms of hormonal birth control

Xcopri can interact with certain forms of hormonal birth control, which are used to prevent pregnancy.

Examples of birth control medications that interact with Xcopri include:

• combination pills, such as drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yasmin, Yaz)
• minipills, such as norethindrone (Camila, Heather)
• patches, such as norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol (Xulane)
• vaginal rings, such as etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol (NuvaRing) and segesterone acetate/ethinyl estradiol (Annovera)
• implants, such as etonogestrel (Nexplanon)
• emergency contraceptives, such as levonorgestrel (Plan B) and ulipristal acetate (Ella)

What could happen

Xcopri can increase the action of certain enzymes (proteins) that help clear some forms of hormonal birth control from your body. Taking Xcopri with these forms of birth control can make them less effective at preventing pregnancy.

What you can do

If you take Xcopri with a hormonal form of birth control, talk with your doctor. They may recommend using an extra backup method of birth control, such as condoms. Or they may recommend switching to a form of birth control that Xcopri doesn’t affect, such as Mirena or Phexxi.

If you need emergency contraception while taking Xcopri, see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will likely recommend the Paragard (copper) intrauterine device rather than a hormonal emergency contraceptive.

If you have questions about taking Xcopri with birth control, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interaction with sedating antihistamines

Xcopri can interact with sedating antihistamines, which are used to treat allergies, motion sickness, and insomnia (difficulty sleeping). Sedating antihistamines are also found in some combination medications used to treat cough, cold, and allergy symptoms. Many of these medications are available over the counter.

Examples of sedating antihistamine medications:

• chlorpheniramine
• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• promethazine

What could happen

Xcopri and sedating antihistamines can both cause sleepiness. So taking Xcopri with a sedating antihistamine can raise your risk of sleepiness.

What you can do

It’s best to avoid taking Xcopri with other medications that can cause sleepiness, such as sedating antihistamines. Always check the ingredients of over-the-counter medications before taking them with Xcopri. You can also ask your pharmacist whether these medications can interact with Xcopri.

Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend alternative medications for your condition that don’t interact with Xcopri.

If you have questions about taking Xcopri with a sedating antihistamine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interaction with certain proton pump inhibitors

Xcopri can interact with certain proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are used to treat acid reflux, heartburn, and peptic ulcers.

Examples of PPI medication that can interact with Xcopri include:

• lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• omeprazole (Prilosec)

What could happen

Xcopri can reduce the action of an enzyme in your body called cytochrome p450 2C19 (CYP2C19). This enzyme helps clear certain drugs from your body, including omeprazole and lansoprazole.

Taking Xcopri with omeprazole or lansoprazole can cause these PPIs to build up in your body. This could raise your risk of side effects from the PPI.

What you can do

If you take Xcopri with lansoprazole or omeprazole, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of these drugs. You should not take a higher dose of either medication than your doctor prescribes.

If you have questions about taking Xcopri with a PPI, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Xcopri may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Xcopri.

Does Xcopri interact with supplements?

Before you start taking Xcopri, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Xcopri and herbs

There are currently no reports of Xcopri interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.

For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Xcopri.

Xcopri and vitamins

There are currently no reports of Xcopri interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.

For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Xcopri.

Does Xcopri interact with food?

There are currently no reports of Xcopri interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Xcopri, talk with your doctor.

Does Xcopri interact with vaccines?

There are currently no reports of Xcopri interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Xcopri treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does Xcopri interact with lab tests?

There are currently no reports of Xcopri interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Xcopri, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.

Does Xcopri interact with cannabis or CBD?

There are currently no reports of Xcopri interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But Xcopri and cannabis can cause some similar side effects, such as sleepiness and trouble concentrating. So you may be more likely to have these side effects if you take Xcopri with cannabis. As with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Xcopri.

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

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Xcopri. Before taking Xcopri, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Xcopri is right for you.

Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Xcopri include:

Familial short QT syndrome. This syndrome is an inherited condition that causes an irregular heart rhythm. If you have this syndrome, Xcopri is likely not safe for you. For more details about this, see the ”When should I avoid Xcopri” section above.

Mental health conditions. Seizure medications such as Xcopri may cause depression or suicidal thoughts. If you have a mental health condition, you may have an increased risk of these side effects. Talk with your doctor about whether Xcopri is safe for you. If you take Xcopri, tell your doctor right away if you’re feeling down.

Kidney or liver problems. Your kidneys and liver help to clear Xcopri from your body. If your kidneys or liver don’t work well, Xcopri could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of side effects. If you have kidney or liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of Xcopri that’s lower than usual. But if you have severe problems, your doctor will likely not prescribe Xcopri. You can ask your doctor about another treatment that may be a better choice for you.

Pregnancy. It’s not known whether Xcopri is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking Xcopri.

If you do take Xcopri while pregnant, consider enrolling in the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. This registry collects information about the effect of seizure medications, including Xcopri, on pregnancy outcomes. To learn more, call 888-233-2334 or talk with your doctor.

Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Xcopri while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Xcopri or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Xcopri. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Xcopri. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:

• Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
• What to do if you start taking a new drug during your Xcopri treatment.

It’s also important to understand Xcopri’s label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. Colored stickers that describe interactions may be on the label. And the paperwork (sometimes called the patient package insert or medication guide) may have other details about interactions. (If you did not get paperwork with Xcopri, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you.)

If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.

Taking Xcopri exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.

If you still have questions about Xcopri and its possible interactions, talk with your doctor.

Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:

• If I take Xcopri with my other seizure medications, will you adjust my dosage of these medications?
• What should I do if I feel very sleepy when taking Xcopri with other seizure medications?
• What pain relievers are safe to take with Xcopri?
• Does my risk of interactions depend on my dosage of Xcopri?

To learn more about Xcopri, see these articles:

• All About Xcopri
• Dosage Details for Xcopri
• Xcopri and Cost: What You Need to Know

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Disclaimer: Healthline 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.