Drug interactions
Brexanolone + Esketamine
Severity: Moderate
Brexanolone and Esketamine: moderate 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
Brexanolone causes dose-related sedation and may produce loss of consciousness, and esketamine adds sedation and dissociation. Together the risk of excessive sedation is increased.
What this interaction means in plain words
Brexanolone and Esketamine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through GABA-A positive modulation and NMDA antagonism.
What to do
Monitor sedation level and oxygen saturation continuously during brexanolone infusion if esketamine is coadministered. Separate dosing in time where possible and reduce brexanolone dose if oversedation develops.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Brexanolone and Esketamine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Esketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Brexanolone with Esketamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Brexanolone and Esketamine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Brexanolone causes dose-related sedation and may produce loss of consciousness, and esketamine adds sedation and dissociation. Together the risk of excessive sedation is increased.
How serious is the interaction between Brexanolone and Esketamine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor sedation level and oxygen saturation continuously during brexanolone infusion if esketamine is coadministered. Separate dosing in time where possible and reduce brexanolone dose if oversedation develops.
What other medicines interact with Esketamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Esketamine with, for example, Alfentanil, Amobarbital, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Esketamine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
