Drug interactions
Desflurane + Pholcodine
Severity: Minor
Desflurane and Pholcodine: minor 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
Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive with mild sedative effect that may add to CNS depression from desflurane. The clinical effect is generally small at antitussive doses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Pholcodine have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through weak opioid receptor activity.
What to do
No routine adjustment is needed; titrate desflurane to depth monitoring. Note that pholcodine has been linked to neuromuscular blocker anaphylaxis sensitization, so review use before anesthesia.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
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Other interactions of Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Pholcodine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Desflurane and Pholcodine have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive with mild sedative effect that may add to CNS depression from desflurane. The clinical effect is generally small at antitussive doses.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Pholcodine?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: No routine adjustment is needed; titrate desflurane to depth monitoring. Note that pholcodine has been linked to neuromuscular blocker anaphylaxis sensitization, so review use before anesthesia.
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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