Drug interactions
Desflurane + Opium tincture
Severity: Moderate
Desflurane and Opium tincture: 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
Opium tincture contains morphine, which adds to the respiratory and CNS depression of desflurane and lowers its required concentration. Hypotension and delayed emergence may occur.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Opium tincture 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.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression via opioid receptor agonism and reduction of minimum alveolar concentration.
What to do
Reduce desflurane concentration to depth-of-anesthesia monitoring and monitor ventilation and blood pressure. Provide postoperative respiratory monitoring.
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 Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Opium tincture?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desflurane and Opium tincture 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. Opium tincture contains morphine, which adds to the respiratory and CNS depression of desflurane and lowers its required concentration. Hypotension and delayed emergence may occur.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Opium tincture?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Reduce desflurane concentration to depth-of-anesthesia monitoring and monitor ventilation and blood pressure. Provide postoperative respiratory monitoring.
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.
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