Drug interactions
Desflurane + Morphine
Severity: Moderate
Desflurane and Morphine: 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 lower the concentration of inhaled anesthetic needed to maintain anesthesia and add to its respiratory and cardiovascular depression. Overdosing of either agent can lead to hypotension, bradycardia and prolonged respiratory depression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Morphine 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; Morphine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS, respiratory and cardiovascular depression, with opioid reduction of anesthetic MAC.
What to do
Titrate desflurane to clinical effect and depth-of-anesthesia monitoring, using reduced concentrations when morphine is given. Monitor ventilation and haemodynamics, including postoperatively.
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 Morphine
- Alvimopan + Morphine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Morphine Contraindicated
- Morphine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Morphine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Morphine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Morphine Major
Other interactions of Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Morphine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desflurane and Morphine 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 lower the concentration of inhaled anesthetic needed to maintain anesthesia and add to its respiratory and cardiovascular depression. Overdosing of either agent can lead to hypotension, bradycardia and prolonged respiratory depression.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Morphine?
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 desflurane to clinical effect and depth-of-anesthesia monitoring, using reduced concentrations when morphine is given. Monitor ventilation and haemodynamics, including postoperatively.
What other medicines interact with Morphine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Morphine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Morphine page.
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