Drug interactions
Dexchlorpheniramine + Methadone
Severity: Moderate
Dexchlorpheniramine and Methadone: 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
Combining methadone with a sedating antihistamine can intensify drowsiness, psychomotor impairment and respiratory depression. The risk is greatest at treatment initiation, with dose increases, and in elderly or opioid-naive patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Dexchlorpheniramine and Methadone 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.
Dexchlorpheniramine belongs to Respiratory; Methadone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive central nervous system depression from opioid agonism and histamine H1 receptor blockade.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and counsel patients to avoid driving or operating machinery. Monitor sedation and respiratory rate, especially after dose changes.
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 Dexchlorpheniramine and Methadone, 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 Methadone
- Alvimopan + Methadone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Methadone Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Methadone Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Methadone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Methadone Contraindicated
- Lefamulin + Methadone Contraindicated
Other interactions of Dexchlorpheniramine
- Alprazolam + Dexchlorpheniramine Moderate
- Amisulpride + Dexchlorpheniramine Moderate
- Amitriptyline + Dexchlorpheniramine Moderate
- Amobarbital + Dexchlorpheniramine Moderate
- Asenapine + Dexchlorpheniramine Moderate
- Azelastine-fluticasone + Dexchlorpheniramine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Dexchlorpheniramine with Methadone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dexchlorpheniramine and Methadone 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. Combining methadone with a sedating antihistamine can intensify drowsiness, psychomotor impairment and respiratory depression. The risk is greatest at treatment initiation, with dose increases, and in elderly or opioid-naive patients.
How serious is the interaction between Dexchlorpheniramine and Methadone?
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 doses and counsel patients to avoid driving or operating machinery. Monitor sedation and respiratory rate, especially after dose changes.
What other medicines interact with Methadone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Methadone with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Droperidol. The full list is on the Methadone 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.
