Drug interactions
Chloral hydrate + Difenoxin
Severity: Moderate
Chloral hydrate and Difenoxin: 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
Difenoxin is an opioid-related antidiarrheal and can cause CNS depression at higher doses. With chloral hydrate, additive sedation and respiratory depression may occur, especially in children or with overdose.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chloral hydrate and Difenoxin 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; Difenoxin belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from opioid-like and sedative-hypnotic activity.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and monitor sedation, particularly in children and elderly patients. Avoid exceeding recommended difenoxin doses.
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 Chloral hydrate
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Chloral hydrate Contraindicated
- Chloral hydrate + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Chloral hydrate Major
- Alprazolam + Chloral hydrate Major
- Amobarbital + Chloral hydrate Major
- Belladonna and opium + Chloral hydrate Major
Other interactions of Difenoxin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chloral hydrate with Difenoxin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloral hydrate and Difenoxin 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. Difenoxin is an opioid-related antidiarrheal and can cause CNS depression at higher doses. With chloral hydrate, additive sedation and respiratory depression may occur, especially in children or with overdose.
How serious is the interaction between Chloral hydrate and Difenoxin?
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 elderly patients. Avoid exceeding recommended difenoxin doses.
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.
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