Drug interactions
Desflurane + Methohexital
Severity: Moderate
Desflurane and Methohexital: 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
Methohexital is a barbiturate used for anesthesia induction, and desflurane is commonly used for maintenance. Together they produce additive CNS and cardiorespiratory depression, which is expected in balanced anesthesia but requires dose adjustment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Methohexital 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.
Desflurane belongs to Central Nervous System; Methohexital belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through GABA-A potentiation by both agents.
What to do
Titrate the doses of each agent to clinical effect and monitor hemodynamics, ventilation and depth of anesthesia. Reduce the desflurane concentration as needed after induction.
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 Desflurane and Methohexital, 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 Desflurane
Other interactions of Methohexital
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Methohexital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desflurane and Methohexital 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. Methohexital is a barbiturate used for anesthesia induction, and desflurane is commonly used for maintenance. Together they produce additive CNS and cardiorespiratory depression, which is expected in balanced anesthesia but requires dose adjustment.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Methohexital?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Titrate the doses of each agent to clinical effect and monitor hemodynamics, ventilation and depth of anesthesia. Reduce the desflurane concentration as needed after induction.
What other medicines interact with Desflurane?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Desflurane with, for example, Amisulpride, Anagrelide, Arsenic trioxide. The full list is on the Desflurane 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.
