Drug interactions
Clozapine + Ganaxolone
Severity: Moderate
Clozapine and Ganaxolone: 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
Ganaxolone is a neuroactive steroid with sedative effects, and clozapine is also sedating. Used together they can cause excessive somnolence, dizziness and impaired psychomotor function. Clozapine may also lower the seizure threshold, opposing the benefit of ganaxolone.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clozapine and Ganaxolone 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.
Clozapine belongs to Central Nervous System; Ganaxolone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through GABA-A modulation and clozapine's sedating receptor antagonism.
What to do
Monitor sedation and seizure control, and adjust doses if excessive somnolence occurs. Counsel patients to avoid driving and hazardous tasks until response is known.
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 Clozapine
- Clozapine + Deferiprone Contraindicated
- Clozapine + Irinotecan Contraindicated
- Clozapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Clozapine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Acalabrutinib + Clozapine Major
- Adagrasib + Clozapine Major
Other interactions of Ganaxolone
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clozapine with Ganaxolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clozapine and Ganaxolone 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. Ganaxolone is a neuroactive steroid with sedative effects, and clozapine is also sedating. Used together they can cause excessive somnolence, dizziness and impaired psychomotor function. Clozapine may also lower the seizure threshold, opposing the benefit of ganaxolone.
How serious is the interaction between Clozapine and Ganaxolone?
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 sedation and seizure control, and adjust doses if excessive somnolence occurs. Counsel patients to avoid driving and hazardous tasks until response is known.
What other medicines interact with Clozapine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clozapine with, for example, Deferiprone, Irinotecan, Pimozide. The full list is on the Clozapine page.
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