Drug interactions
Chloral hydrate + Methocarbamol
Severity: Moderate
Chloral hydrate and Methocarbamol: 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 a sedative-hypnotic and methocarbamol also depresses the central nervous system. Together they can cause excessive sedation, and at higher doses respiratory depression, particularly in older or frail patients or with alcohol.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chloral hydrate and Methocarbamol 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; Methocarbamol belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression; the active metabolite trichloroethanol enhances GABA-A activity.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and avoid alcohol. Monitor the level of sedation and respiration, and reduce the dose if drowsiness is excessive.
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 Methocarbamol, 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 Methocarbamol
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
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chloral hydrate with Methocarbamol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloral hydrate and Methocarbamol 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 a sedative-hypnotic and methocarbamol also depresses the central nervous system. Together they can cause excessive sedation, and at higher doses respiratory depression, particularly in older or frail patients or with alcohol.
How serious is the interaction between Chloral hydrate and Methocarbamol?
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 avoid alcohol. Monitor the level of sedation and respiration, and reduce the dose if drowsiness is excessive.
What other medicines interact with Methocarbamol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Methocarbamol with, for example, Alfentanil, Amobarbital, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Methocarbamol 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.
