Drug interactions
Chloramphenicol + Secobarbital
Severity: Moderate
Chloramphenicol and Secobarbital: 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
Barbiturates induce hepatic enzymes and can lower chloramphenicol concentrations, potentially causing subtherapeutic antibiotic levels. Chloramphenicol in turn can inhibit barbiturate metabolism, increasing sedation.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chloramphenicol and Secobarbital 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.
Chloramphenicol belongs to Anti Bacterial; Secobarbital belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Secobarbital induces hepatic enzymes that metabolize chloramphenicol, while chloramphenicol inhibits hepatic metabolism of barbiturates.
What to do
Monitor chloramphenicol serum concentrations and clinical response, and adjust the dose accordingly. Watch for excessive sedation and reduce the secobarbital dose if needed.
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 Chloramphenicol
Other interactions of Secobarbital
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Doravirine + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elbasvir / grazoprevir + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Isavuconazonium + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Lonafarnib + Secobarbital Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chloramphenicol with Secobarbital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chloramphenicol and Secobarbital 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. Barbiturates induce hepatic enzymes and can lower chloramphenicol concentrations, potentially causing subtherapeutic antibiotic levels. Chloramphenicol in turn can inhibit barbiturate metabolism, increasing sedation.
How serious is the interaction between Chloramphenicol and Secobarbital?
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 chloramphenicol serum concentrations and clinical response, and adjust the dose accordingly. Watch for excessive sedation and reduce the secobarbital dose if needed.
What other medicines interact with Chloramphenicol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Chloramphenicol with, for example, Adagrasib, Avapritinib, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Chloramphenicol page.
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