Drug interactions
Cimetidine + Oxycodone
Severity: Moderate
Cimetidine and Oxycodone: 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
Cimetidine may slightly increase oxycodone exposure and its sedative and respiratory depressant effects. The clinical impact is usually modest, but is relevant in opioid-naive, elderly or frail patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cimetidine and Oxycodone 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.
Cimetidine belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Oxycodone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Cimetidine inhibits CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, reducing oxycodone metabolism.
What to do
Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, and reduce the oxycodone dose if needed. Consider famotidine as an alternative.
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 Cimetidine
- Cimetidine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Cimetidine + Fezolinetant Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Cimetidine Major
- Atazanavir + Cimetidine Major
- Carmustine + Cimetidine Major
- Cimetidine + Citalopram Major
Other interactions of Oxycodone
- Alvimopan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cimetidine with Oxycodone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cimetidine and Oxycodone 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. Cimetidine may slightly increase oxycodone exposure and its sedative and respiratory depressant effects. The clinical impact is usually modest, but is relevant in opioid-naive, elderly or frail patients.
How serious is the interaction between Cimetidine and Oxycodone?
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 sedation and respiratory depression, and reduce the oxycodone dose if needed. Consider famotidine as an alternative.
What other medicines interact with Cimetidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Cimetidine with, for example, Dofetilide, Fezolinetant, Alfentanil. The full list is on the Cimetidine page.
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