Drug interactions
Doxylamine + Methadone
Severity: Moderate
Doxylamine and Methadone: 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
Doxylamine is a strongly sedating antihistamine, and with methadone it increases drowsiness and the risk of respiratory depression and impaired psychomotor function.
What this interaction means in plain words
Doxylamine and Methadone 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.
Doxylamine belongs to Respiratory; Methadone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from opioid agonism and central H1 receptor blockade.
What to do
Avoid using doxylamine as a routine sleep aid in methadone patients, or use the lowest dose with warnings against driving. Monitor sedation and breathing.
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 Methadone
- Alvimopan + Methadone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Methadone Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Methadone Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Methadone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Methadone Contraindicated
- Lefamulin + Methadone Contraindicated
Other interactions of Doxylamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Doxylamine with Methadone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Doxylamine and Methadone 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. Doxylamine is a strongly sedating antihistamine, and with methadone it increases drowsiness and the risk of respiratory depression and impaired psychomotor function.
How serious is the interaction between Doxylamine and Methadone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid using doxylamine as a routine sleep aid in methadone patients, or use the lowest dose with warnings against driving. Monitor sedation and breathing.
What other medicines interact with Methadone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Methadone with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Droperidol. The full list is on the Methadone page.
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