Drug interactions
Chlorpheniramine + Kava
Severity: Moderate
Chlorpheniramine and Kava: 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
Kava has sedative and anxiolytic effects and can add to the drowsiness caused by chlorpheniramine. Kava is also associated with hepatotoxicity, which makes concurrent use less desirable.
What this interaction means in plain words
Chlorpheniramine and Kava 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.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression, with kava acting partly through GABAergic modulation.
What to do
Advise avoiding the combination or using it with caution regarding driving and machinery. Stop kava if oversedation or signs of liver injury occur.
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 Chlorpheniramine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Chlorpheniramine with Kava?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Chlorpheniramine and Kava 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. Kava has sedative and anxiolytic effects and can add to the drowsiness caused by chlorpheniramine. Kava is also associated with hepatotoxicity, which makes concurrent use less desirable.
How serious is the interaction between Chlorpheniramine and Kava?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise avoiding the combination or using it with caution regarding driving and machinery. Stop kava if oversedation or signs of liver injury occur.
What other medicines interact with Chlorpheniramine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Chlorpheniramine with, for example, Belladonna and opium, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen, Brexanolone. The full list is on the Chlorpheniramine page.
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