Drug interactions
Dexmedetomidine + Sufentanil
Severity: Moderate
Dexmedetomidine and Sufentanil: 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
Both agents cause sedation, and sufentanil is a potent opioid that depresses respiration. Together they can produce deeper sedation, respiratory depression, bradycardia and hypotension, although the combination is often used deliberately to reduce opioid requirements.
What this interaction means in plain words
Dexmedetomidine and Sufentanil 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; Sufentanil belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression from mu-opioid agonism and alpha-2 agonism.
What to do
Reduce the dose of one or both drugs and monitor ventilation, oxygen saturation, heart rate and blood pressure continuously. Titrate to effect.
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 Sufentanil, 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 Dexmedetomidine
Other interactions of Sufentanil
- Alprazolam + Sufentanil Major
- Amitriptyline + Sufentanil Major
- Amobarbital + Sufentanil Major
- Aripiprazole + Sufentanil Major
- Asenapine + Sufentanil Major
- Baclofen + Sufentanil Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Dexmedetomidine with Sufentanil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dexmedetomidine and Sufentanil 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. Both agents cause sedation, and sufentanil is a potent opioid that depresses respiration. Together they can produce deeper sedation, respiratory depression, bradycardia and hypotension, although the combination is often used deliberately to reduce opioid requirements.
How serious is the interaction between Dexmedetomidine and Sufentanil?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Reduce the dose of one or both drugs and monitor ventilation, oxygen saturation, heart rate and blood pressure continuously. Titrate to effect.
What other medicines interact with Dexmedetomidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Dexmedetomidine with, for example, Buprenorphine long-acting, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Dextromoramide. The full list is on the Dexmedetomidine 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.
