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Drug interactions

Belladonna and opium + Clozapine

Severity: Major

Belladonna and opium and Clozapine: 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

This combination adds anticholinergic and opioid effects to clozapine. It can cause severe constipation, ileus, urinary retention, sedation, respiratory depression and hypotension.

What this interaction means in plain words

Belladonna and opium and Clozapine 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.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Additive antimuscarinic, opioid-mediated CNS and respiratory depression and reduced gastrointestinal motility.

What to do

Avoid if possible; otherwise use the lowest doses for the shortest time. Monitor sedation, respiration, blood pressure and bowel function.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Belladonna and opium with Clozapine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Belladonna and opium and Clozapine 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. This combination adds anticholinergic and opioid effects to clozapine. It can cause severe constipation, ileus, urinary retention, sedation, respiratory depression and hypotension.

How serious is the interaction between Belladonna and opium and Clozapine?

MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid if possible; otherwise use the lowest doses for the shortest time. Monitor sedation, respiration, blood pressure and bowel function.

What other medicines interact with Clozapine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Clozapine with, for example, Deferiprone, Irinotecan, Pimozide. The full list is on the Clozapine page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

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