Drug interactions
Desflurane + Tramadol
Severity: Moderate
Desflurane and Tramadol: 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 reduce the requirement for volatile anesthetics and add to their CNS and respiratory depression. Perioperatively this can cause deeper anesthesia, hypotension and prolonged recovery or postoperative respiratory depression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Tramadol 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; Tramadol belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression, with opioid-related reduction of anesthetic requirement.
What to do
Titrate desflurane concentration to depth of anesthesia and monitor ventilation and hemodynamics. Observe closely for respiratory depression during recovery.
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 Tramadol, 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 Tramadol
- Isocarboxazid + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Safinamide + Tramadol Contraindicated
Other interactions of Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Tramadol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desflurane and Tramadol 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 reduce the requirement for volatile anesthetics and add to their CNS and respiratory depression. Perioperatively this can cause deeper anesthesia, hypotension and prolonged recovery or postoperative respiratory depression.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Tramadol?
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 concentration to depth of anesthesia and monitor ventilation and hemodynamics. Observe closely for respiratory depression during recovery.
What other medicines interact with Tramadol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tramadol with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Tramadol 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.
