Drug interactions
Dexmedetomidine + Hydromorphone
Severity: Moderate
Dexmedetomidine and Hydromorphone: 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
Dexmedetomidine is a sedative alpha-2 agonist, and with hydromorphone it produces additive sedation, and may cause bradycardia and hypotension. It is often used deliberately to reduce opioid requirements, but doses need to be adjusted.
What this interaction means in plain words
Dexmedetomidine and Hydromorphone 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.
Dexmedetomidine belongs to Central Nervous System; Hydromorphone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and additive hemodynamic depression through alpha-2 agonism and opioid effects.
What to do
Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, sedation depth and respiratory status, and reduce doses of either drug as needed.
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 Dexmedetomidine and Hydromorphone, 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 Hydromorphone
- Alvimopan + Hydromorphone Contraindicated
- Bupropion-naltrexone + Hydromorphone Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Dexmedetomidine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Dexmedetomidine with Hydromorphone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dexmedetomidine and Hydromorphone 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. Dexmedetomidine is a sedative alpha-2 agonist, and with hydromorphone it produces additive sedation, and may cause bradycardia and hypotension. It is often used deliberately to reduce opioid requirements, but doses need to be adjusted.
How serious is the interaction between Dexmedetomidine and Hydromorphone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, sedation depth and respiratory status, and reduce doses of either drug as needed.
What other medicines interact with Hydromorphone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydromorphone with, for example, Alvimopan, Bupropion-naltrexone, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Hydromorphone 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.
