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Drug interactions

Dimenhydrinate + Meperidine

Severity: Moderate

Dimenhydrinate and Meperidine: 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

Dimenhydrinate is a sedating antihistamine that adds to opioid drowsiness and psychomotor impairment. Anticholinergic effects may also add, with confusion in older adults.

What this interaction means in plain words

Dimenhydrinate and Meperidine 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.

Dimenhydrinate belongs to Respiratory; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Additive CNS depression and anticholinergic effects.

What to do

Counsel on drowsiness and avoid driving; reduce doses if oversedation occurs. Monitor older patients for confusion.

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 Dimenhydrinate with Meperidine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dimenhydrinate and Meperidine 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. Dimenhydrinate is a sedating antihistamine that adds to opioid drowsiness and psychomotor impairment. Anticholinergic effects may also add, with confusion in older adults.

How serious is the interaction between Dimenhydrinate and Meperidine?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Counsel on drowsiness and avoid driving; reduce doses if oversedation occurs. Monitor older patients for confusion.

What other medicines interact with Meperidine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Meperidine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue. The full list is on the Meperidine 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.

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