Drug interactions
Chloral hydrate + Gabapentin enacarbil
Severity: Moderate
Chloral hydrate and Gabapentin enacarbil: 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
Gabapentin enacarbil is converted to gabapentin, which causes sedation and can depress breathing, particularly in combination with other sedatives. Chloral hydrate adds to this effect, raising the risk of excessive sedation and respiratory depression, especially in older or medically compromised patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chloral hydrate and Gabapentin enacarbil 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; Gabapentin enacarbil belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic CNS depression between gabapentinoid activity and the sedative-hypnotic chloral hydrate.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, especially at initiation and after dose increases. Take extra care in patients with respiratory disease or renal impairment.
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 Gabapentin enacarbil
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chloral hydrate with Gabapentin enacarbil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloral hydrate and Gabapentin enacarbil 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. Gabapentin enacarbil is converted to gabapentin, which causes sedation and can depress breathing, particularly in combination with other sedatives. Chloral hydrate adds to this effect, raising the risk of excessive sedation and respiratory depression, especially in older or medically compromised patients.
How serious is the interaction between Chloral hydrate and Gabapentin enacarbil?
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 for sedation and respiratory depression, especially at initiation and after dose increases. Take extra care in patients with respiratory disease or renal impairment.
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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