Drug interactions
Atracurium + Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen
Severity: Major
Atracurium and Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen: major interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Opioids combined with neuromuscular blockers can add to respiratory compromise, and the opioid's sedation may mask inadequate ventilation. Atracurium is used only with ventilatory support, so the practical risk arises when residual blockade overlaps with opioid-induced respiratory depression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Atracurium and Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive respiratory depression: central opioid-mediated depression plus peripheral neuromuscular blockade.
What to do
Use only with controlled ventilation and monitor neuromuscular blockade and respiratory status until full recovery. Use the lowest effective opioid dose and duration.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Atracurium
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Atracurium with Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Atracurium and Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Opioids combined with neuromuscular blockers can add to respiratory compromise, and the opioid's sedation may mask inadequate ventilation. Atracurium is used only with ventilatory support, so the practical risk arises when residual blockade overlaps with opioid-induced respiratory depression.
How serious is the interaction between Atracurium and Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use only with controlled ventilation and monitor neuromuscular blockade and respiratory status until full recovery. Use the lowest effective opioid dose and duration.
What other medicines interact with Atracurium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Atracurium with, for example, Amikacin, Bacitracin-neomycin-polymyxin, Capreomycin. The full list is on the Atracurium page.
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