Drug interactions
Chloral hydrate + Warfarin
Severity: Moderate
Chloral hydrate and Warfarin: 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's metabolite trichloroacetic acid can displace warfarin from albumin, causing a transient rise in anticoagulant effect. Clinical significance is greatest at the start of therapy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chloral hydrate and Warfarin 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; Warfarin belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Displacement of warfarin from plasma protein binding by the metabolite trichloroacetic acid.
What to do
Monitor INR when chloral hydrate is started, especially with repeated dosing. Prefer an alternative sedative if INR stability is critical.
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 Warfarin
- Defibrotide + Warfarin Contraindicated
- Ketorolac + Warfarin Contraindicated
- Abciximab + Warfarin Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Warfarin Major
- Adagrasib + Warfarin Major
- Amiodarone + Warfarin Major
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 Warfarin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloral hydrate and Warfarin 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's metabolite trichloroacetic acid can displace warfarin from albumin, causing a transient rise in anticoagulant effect. Clinical significance is greatest at the start of therapy.
How serious is the interaction between Chloral hydrate and Warfarin?
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 INR when chloral hydrate is started, especially with repeated dosing. Prefer an alternative sedative if INR stability is critical.
What other medicines interact with Warfarin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Warfarin with, for example, Defibrotide, Ketorolac, Abciximab. The full list is on the Warfarin page.
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