Drug interactions
Buspirone + Meperidine
Severity: Moderate
Buspirone and Meperidine: 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
Buspirone is a 5-HT1A partial agonist and meperidine has serotonergic activity, so combining them may contribute to serotonin syndrome. The risk is probably lower than with reuptake inhibitors, but cases of serotonin toxicity with buspirone and other serotonergic agents exist.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buspirone and Meperidine 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.
Buspirone belongs to Central Nervous System; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive serotonergic activity from 5-HT1A agonism and meperidine's serotonin reuptake inhibition.
What to do
Consider a non-serotonergic opioid in patients taking buspirone. If combined, watch for agitation, tremor, diaphoresis, hyperreflexia and fever.
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?
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Other interactions of Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Buspirone
- Buspirone + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Linezolid Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Selegiline transdermal Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buspirone with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buspirone and Meperidine 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. Buspirone is a 5-HT1A partial agonist and meperidine has serotonergic activity, so combining them may contribute to serotonin syndrome. The risk is probably lower than with reuptake inhibitors, but cases of serotonin toxicity with buspirone and other serotonergic agents exist.
How serious is the interaction between Buspirone and Meperidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Consider a non-serotonergic opioid in patients taking buspirone. If combined, watch for agitation, tremor, diaphoresis, hyperreflexia and fever.
What other medicines interact with Meperidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Meperidine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue. The full list is on the Meperidine page.
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