Drug interactions
Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Esketamine
Severity: Major
Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates and Esketamine: 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
Oxybates are potent CNS and respiratory depressants and together with esketamine can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression and coma. Combined use is hazardous.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates and Esketamine 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 and respiratory depression.
What to do
Avoid the combination where possible; if unavoidable, use reduced doses and monitor sedation and respiratory function closely.
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 Esketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates with Esketamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates and Esketamine 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. Oxybates are potent CNS and respiratory depressants and together with esketamine can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression and coma. Combined use is hazardous.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates and Esketamine?
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 the combination where possible; if unavoidable, use reduced doses and monitor sedation and respiratory function closely.
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.
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