Drug interactions
Difenoxin + Ketamine
Severity: Moderate
Difenoxin and Ketamine: 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 metabolite of diphenoxylate that can cause sedation and, at higher doses, respiratory depression. With ketamine, CNS depression may be additive.
What this interaction means in plain words
Difenoxin and Ketamine 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; Ketamine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression via opioid agonism and NMDA antagonism.
What to do
Monitor sedation and respiration, and avoid exceeding recommended antidiarrheal doses. Counsel on avoiding driving.
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 Difenoxin and Ketamine, 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 Ketamine
Other interactions of Difenoxin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Difenoxin with Ketamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Difenoxin and Ketamine 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 metabolite of diphenoxylate that can cause sedation and, at higher doses, respiratory depression. With ketamine, CNS depression may be additive.
How serious is the interaction between Difenoxin and Ketamine?
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 sedation and respiration, and avoid exceeding recommended antidiarrheal doses. Counsel on avoiding driving.
What other medicines interact with Ketamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ketamine with, for example, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen, Brexanolone, Buprenorphine buccal. The full list is on the Ketamine 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.
