Drug interactions
Chlordiazepoxide + Diphenoxylate
Severity: Moderate
Chlordiazepoxide and Diphenoxylate: 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
Diphenoxylate is an opioid antidiarrheal that can cause CNS depression, particularly at higher doses or in children. Combined with chlordiazepoxide, additive drowsiness and respiratory depression may occur.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chlordiazepoxide and Diphenoxylate 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.
Chlordiazepoxide belongs to Central Nervous System; Diphenoxylate belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from opioid activity and GABA-A potentiation.
What to do
Monitor for excess sedation and breathing depression, and do not exceed recommended diphenoxylate doses; counsel against driving.
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 Chlordiazepoxide and Diphenoxylate, 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 Chlordiazepoxide
Other interactions of Diphenoxylate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chlordiazepoxide with Diphenoxylate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chlordiazepoxide and Diphenoxylate 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. Diphenoxylate is an opioid antidiarrheal that can cause CNS depression, particularly at higher doses or in children. Combined with chlordiazepoxide, additive drowsiness and respiratory depression may occur.
How serious is the interaction between Chlordiazepoxide and Diphenoxylate?
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 for excess sedation and breathing depression, and do not exceed recommended diphenoxylate doses; counsel against driving.
What other medicines interact with Chlordiazepoxide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Chlordiazepoxide with, for example, Alfentanil, Alprazolam, Amobarbital. The full list is on the Chlordiazepoxide 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.
