Drug interactions
Chloral hydrate + Pimozide
Severity: Moderate
Chloral hydrate and Pimozide: 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
Both drugs depress the central nervous system, so combined use can produce marked sedation and psychomotor impairment. In addition, chloral hydrate has been linked with arrhythmias and pimozide is a notable QT-prolonging agent, which raises cardiac concern.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chloral hydrate and Pimozide 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; Pimozide belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression, with a possible additive proarrhythmic contribution from pimozide-related QT prolongation.
What to do
Monitor sedation and consider baseline and follow-up ECG, keeping potassium and magnesium normal. Prefer a non-pharmacological or alternative hypnotic where feasible.
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 Pimozide
- Adagrasib + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Anagrelide + Pimozide Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chloral hydrate with Pimozide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloral hydrate and Pimozide 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. Both drugs depress the central nervous system, so combined use can produce marked sedation and psychomotor impairment. In addition, chloral hydrate has been linked with arrhythmias and pimozide is a notable QT-prolonging agent, which raises cardiac concern.
How serious is the interaction between Chloral hydrate and Pimozide?
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 sedation and consider baseline and follow-up ECG, keeping potassium and magnesium normal. Prefer a non-pharmacological or alternative hypnotic where feasible.
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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