Drug interactions
Desvenlafaxine + Opium tincture
Severity: Moderate
Desvenlafaxine 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
Opioids can add to serotonergic effects of SNRIs and have been linked to serotonin syndrome, although morphine, the main opium alkaloid, has weak serotonergic activity. Additive sedation and respiratory depression are also possible.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desvenlafaxine 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 serotonergic effects with opioid-related CNS depression; morphine itself is only weakly serotonergic.
What to do
Use the lowest effective opioid dose and monitor for serotonin syndrome and for excess sedation or slowed breathing. Reassess therapy if symptoms of toxicity appear.
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 Desvenlafaxine
- Desvenlafaxine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Safinamide Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desvenlafaxine with Opium tincture?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desvenlafaxine 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. Opioids can add to serotonergic effects of SNRIs and have been linked to serotonin syndrome, although morphine, the main opium alkaloid, has weak serotonergic activity. Additive sedation and respiratory depression are also possible.
How serious is the interaction between Desvenlafaxine 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: Use the lowest effective opioid dose and monitor for serotonin syndrome and for excess sedation or slowed breathing. Reassess therapy if symptoms of toxicity appear.
What other medicines interact with Desvenlafaxine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Desvenlafaxine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Desvenlafaxine page.
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