Drug interactions
Brexanolone + Gabapentin
Severity: Major
Brexanolone and Gabapentin: 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
Brexanolone infusion causes excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness, and gabapentin adds CNS depression with a possible respiratory effect. The combination may increase the risk of oversedation.
What this interaction means in plain words
Brexanolone and Gabapentin 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 CNS depression via GABAergic and pharmacodynamic effects.
What to do
Monitor continuously with pulse oximetry during infusion and reduce or interrupt the infusion if sedation develops. Review whether the gabapentin dose can be lowered or held.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Brexanolone and Gabapentin, 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 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Gabapentin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Brexanolone with Gabapentin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Brexanolone and Gabapentin 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. Brexanolone infusion causes excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness, and gabapentin adds CNS depression with a possible respiratory effect. The combination may increase the risk of oversedation.
How serious is the interaction between Brexanolone and Gabapentin?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor continuously with pulse oximetry during infusion and reduce or interrupt the infusion if sedation develops. Review whether the gabapentin dose can be lowered or held.
What other medicines interact with Gabapentin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Gabapentin with, for example, Alprazolam, Amobarbital, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Gabapentin 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.
