Drug interactions
Chlordiazepoxide + Pentazocine
Severity: Major
Chlordiazepoxide and Pentazocine: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: US FDA label
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
Concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use can lead to profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Regulators have issued boxed warnings about this combination.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chlordiazepoxide and Pentazocine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Chlordiazepoxide belongs to Central Nervous System; Pentazocine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression via opioid receptors and GABA-A potentiation.
What to do
Avoid concurrent use unless alternatives are inadequate; if used, limit doses and duration. Monitor closely for sedation and respiratory depression.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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References
Other interactions of Pentazocine
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Pentazocine Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Pentazocine Contraindicated
- Pentazocine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Pentazocine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Pentazocine Major
- Alprazolam + Pentazocine Major
Other interactions of Chlordiazepoxide
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chlordiazepoxide with Pentazocine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Chlordiazepoxide and Pentazocine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use can lead to profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Regulators have issued boxed warnings about this combination.
How serious is the interaction between Chlordiazepoxide and Pentazocine?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid concurrent use unless alternatives are inadequate; if used, limit doses and duration. Monitor closely for sedation and respiratory depression.
What other medicines interact with Pentazocine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pentazocine with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Olanzapine / samidorphan, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Pentazocine page.
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