Drug interactions
Chloral hydrate + Epinephrine
Severity: Moderate
Chloral hydrate and Epinephrine: 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
Chloral hydrate is known to sensitise the myocardium to catecholamines, so epinephrine given during or after chloral hydrate exposure may provoke ventricular arrhythmias. The stimulant effect of epinephrine on alertness is not a meaningful counterbalance to sedation.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chloral hydrate and Epinephrine 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; Epinephrine belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Chloral hydrate and its metabolite trichloroethanol sensitise the myocardium to catecholamine-induced arrhythmias, a pharmacodynamic effect.
What to do
Monitor ECG and heart rhythm when epinephrine is needed in a patient who has received chloral hydrate. Use the lowest effective epinephrine dose.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Chloral hydrate and Epinephrine, 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.
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 Epinephrine
- Epinephrine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Epinephrine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Epinephrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Acebutolol + Epinephrine Major
- Amitriptyline + Epinephrine Major
- Amoxapine + Epinephrine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chloral hydrate with Epinephrine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloral hydrate and Epinephrine 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 is known to sensitise the myocardium to catecholamines, so epinephrine given during or after chloral hydrate exposure may provoke ventricular arrhythmias. The stimulant effect of epinephrine on alertness is not a meaningful counterbalance to sedation.
How serious is the interaction between Chloral hydrate and Epinephrine?
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 ECG and heart rhythm when epinephrine is needed in a patient who has received chloral hydrate. Use the lowest effective epinephrine dose.
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.
