Drug interactions
Butalbital + Promethazine
Severity: Moderate
Butalbital and Promethazine: 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
Butalbital is a barbiturate and adds to the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of promethazine. This may cause marked drowsiness and impaired psychomotor performance.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butalbital and Promethazine 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.
What to do
Monitor for oversedation and reduce doses if needed. Counsel patients to avoid driving and alcohol.
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 Promethazine
- Cabergoline + Promethazine Contraindicated
- Dopamine + Promethazine Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Promethazine Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Promethazine Contraindicated
- Promethazine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Promethazine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butalbital with Promethazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Butalbital and Promethazine 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. Butalbital is a barbiturate and adds to the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of promethazine. This may cause marked drowsiness and impaired psychomotor performance.
How serious is the interaction between Butalbital and Promethazine?
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 for oversedation and reduce doses if needed. Counsel patients to avoid driving and alcohol.
What other medicines interact with Promethazine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Promethazine with, for example, Cabergoline, Dopamine, Ibutilide. The full list is on the Promethazine page.
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