Drug interactions
Brexanolone + Ketamine
Severity: Major
Brexanolone and Ketamine: 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 causes excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness in some patients, and other CNS depressants can increase this risk. Ketamine could worsen sedation and impair monitoring during infusion.
What this interaction means in plain words
Brexanolone and Ketamine 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; brexanolone is a GABA-A positive modulator.
What to do
Avoid combining where possible; if unavoidable, monitor sedation and oxygen saturation continuously and reduce or interrupt the brexanolone infusion for excessive sedation.
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 Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Brexanolone with Ketamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Brexanolone and Ketamine 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 causes excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness in some patients, and other CNS depressants can increase this risk. Ketamine could worsen sedation and impair monitoring during infusion.
How serious is the interaction between Brexanolone and Ketamine?
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 combining where possible; if unavoidable, monitor sedation and oxygen saturation continuously and reduce or interrupt the brexanolone infusion for excessive sedation.
What other medicines interact with Ketamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ketamine with, for example, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen, Buprenorphine buccal, Buprenorphine long-acting. The full list is on the Ketamine page.
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