Drug interactions
Desflurane + Timolol
Severity: Moderate
Desflurane and Timolol: 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
Volatile anesthetics such as desflurane depress myocardial contractility and cause vasodilation, and beta-blockade blunts the compensatory heart rate and contractility response. The combination can produce more pronounced hypotension and bradycardia during anesthesia. Systemic exposure is relevant with oral timolol and can also occur with ophthalmic use.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Timolol 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; Timolol belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic cardiovascular depression and blunting of compensatory sympathetic responses.
What to do
Continue chronic beta-blocker therapy perioperatively and tell the anesthesia team. Monitor blood pressure and heart rate continuously and have treatment for hypotension and bradycardia available.
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 Timolol
- Acebutolol + Timolol Major
- Aldesleukin + Timolol Major
- Amifostine + Timolol Major
- Amiodarone + Timolol Major
- Arformoterol + Timolol Major
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Timolol Major
Other interactions of Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Timolol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desflurane and Timolol 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. Volatile anesthetics such as desflurane depress myocardial contractility and cause vasodilation, and beta-blockade blunts the compensatory heart rate and contractility response. The combination can produce more pronounced hypotension and bradycardia during anesthesia. Systemic exposure is relevant with oral timolol and can also occur with ophthalmic use.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Timolol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Continue chronic beta-blocker therapy perioperatively and tell the anesthesia team. Monitor blood pressure and heart rate continuously and have treatment for hypotension and bradycardia available.
What other medicines interact with Timolol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Timolol with, for example, Acebutolol, Aldesleukin, Amifostine. The full list is on the Timolol page.
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