Drug interactions
Diphenoxylate + Orphenadrin
Severity: Moderate
Diphenoxylate and Orphenadrin: 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
Diphenoxylate is an opioid antidiarrheal, and combining it with anticholinergic orphenadrine increases sedation and the risk of reduced gut motility. The combination raises the risk of ileus and urinary retention.
What this interaction means in plain words
Diphenoxylate and Orphenadrin 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.
Diphenoxylate belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Orphenadrin belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and antimuscarinic effects on gut motility.
What to do
Monitor for sedation and abdominal distension, and avoid in obstruction or megacolon risk. Counsel against 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?
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Other interactions of Orphenadrin
Other interactions of Diphenoxylate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Diphenoxylate with Orphenadrin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Diphenoxylate and Orphenadrin 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. Diphenoxylate is an opioid antidiarrheal, and combining it with anticholinergic orphenadrine increases sedation and the risk of reduced gut motility. The combination raises the risk of ileus and urinary retention.
How serious is the interaction between Diphenoxylate and Orphenadrin?
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 for sedation and abdominal distension, and avoid in obstruction or megacolon risk. Counsel against driving.
What other medicines interact with Orphenadrin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Orphenadrin with, for example, Alfentanil, Amobarbital, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen. The full list is on the Orphenadrin page.
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