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Drug interactions

Difenoxin + Hydromorphone

Severity: Moderate

Difenoxin 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

Difenoxin is an opioid antidiarrheal related to diphenoxylate that can cause CNS depression at high doses. With hydromorphone, additive sedation and respiratory depression may occur.

What this interaction means in plain words

Difenoxin 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.

Difenoxin belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Hydromorphone belongs to Musculoskeletal.

Evidence level: Low

Why it happens

Additive opioid-mediated CNS depression.

What to do

Use at the lowest effective doses and monitor for sedation and respiratory depression; avoid exceeding recommended antidiarrheal doses.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Difenoxin with Hydromorphone?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Difenoxin 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. Difenoxin is an opioid antidiarrheal related to diphenoxylate that can cause CNS depression at high doses. With hydromorphone, additive sedation and respiratory depression may occur.

How serious is the interaction between Difenoxin 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: Use at the lowest effective doses and monitor for sedation and respiratory depression; avoid exceeding recommended antidiarrheal doses.

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

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