Drug interactions
Clonidine + Meperidine
Severity: Moderate
Clonidine and Meperidine: 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
Clonidine causes sedation and lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and meperidine adds opioid sedation and respiratory depression. Together they may produce excessive sedation, hypotension and bradycardia, although the combination is sometimes used deliberately in anesthesia and shivering control.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clonidine and Meperidine 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.
Clonidine belongs to Cardiovascular; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and hypotensive effects via alpha-2 agonism and opioid activity.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate, sedation and respiratory rate, and reduce doses of either drug if hypotension or oversedation occurs.
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 Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Clonidine
- Acebutolol + Clonidine Major
- Amifostine + Clonidine Major
- Amiodarone + Clonidine Major
- Amoxapine + Clonidine Major
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Clonidine Major
- Atenolol + Clonidine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clonidine with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clonidine and Meperidine 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. Clonidine causes sedation and lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and meperidine adds opioid sedation and respiratory depression. Together they may produce excessive sedation, hypotension and bradycardia, although the combination is sometimes used deliberately in anesthesia and shivering control.
How serious is the interaction between Clonidine and Meperidine?
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 blood pressure, heart rate, sedation and respiratory rate, and reduce doses of either drug if hypotension or oversedation occurs.
What other medicines interact with Meperidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Meperidine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue. The full list is on the Meperidine page.
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