Drug interactions
Codeine + Ticagrelor
Severity: Moderate
Codeine and Ticagrelor: 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
Opioids delay gastric emptying and can delay and reduce absorption of oral ticagrelor and its active metabolite, so antiplatelet effect may be lower early on. This matters most in acute coronary syndrome.
What this interaction means in plain words
Codeine and Ticagrelor 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.
Codeine belongs to Musculoskeletal; Ticagrelor belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Opioid-induced slowing of gastric emptying reduces the rate and extent of ticagrelor absorption.
What to do
In acute coronary syndrome requiring opioids, consider a parenteral antiplatelet agent and avoid unnecessary opioid use. Otherwise use the lowest effective opioid dose.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Codeine and Ticagrelor, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Codeine
- Alvimopan + Codeine Contraindicated
- Codeine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Codeine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Codeine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Codeine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Codeine Major
Other interactions of Ticagrelor
- Itraconazole + Ticagrelor Contraindicated
- Ketoconazole + Ticagrelor Contraindicated
- Levoketoconazole + Ticagrelor Contraindicated
- Abciximab + Ticagrelor Major
- Abrocitinib + Ticagrelor Major
- Acalabrutinib + Ticagrelor Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Codeine with Ticagrelor?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Codeine and Ticagrelor 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. Opioids delay gastric emptying and can delay and reduce absorption of oral ticagrelor and its active metabolite, so antiplatelet effect may be lower early on. This matters most in acute coronary syndrome.
How serious is the interaction between Codeine and Ticagrelor?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: In acute coronary syndrome requiring opioids, consider a parenteral antiplatelet agent and avoid unnecessary opioid use. Otherwise use the lowest effective opioid dose.
What other medicines interact with Codeine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Codeine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Codeine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
