Skip to content

Drug interactions

Chloral hydrate + Chlorpheniramine

Severity: Moderate

Chloral hydrate and Chlorpheniramine: 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

Chlorpheniramine is a sedating antihistamine that augments the CNS depressant effects of chloral hydrate. This may cause excessive drowsiness and impaired psychomotor function.

What this interaction means in plain words

Chloral hydrate and Chlorpheniramine 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.

Chloral hydrate belongs to Central Nervous System; Chlorpheniramine belongs to Respiratory.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Additive CNS depression.

What to do

Use the lowest effective doses and monitor sedation, particularly in children and older adults. Advise against 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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Chloral hydrate and Chlorpheniramine, 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 7 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Chloral hydrate with Chlorpheniramine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloral hydrate and Chlorpheniramine 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. Chlorpheniramine is a sedating antihistamine that augments the CNS depressant effects of chloral hydrate. This may cause excessive drowsiness and impaired psychomotor function.

How serious is the interaction between Chloral hydrate and Chlorpheniramine?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective doses and monitor sedation, particularly in children and older adults. Advise against driving and alcohol.

What other medicines interact with Chloral hydrate?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Chloral hydrate with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Sodium oxybate, Alfentanil. The full list is on the Chloral hydrate 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.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in