Drug interactions
Droperidol + Methadone
Severity: Contraindicated
Droperidol and Methadone: contraindicated 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
Droperidol carries a boxed warning for QT prolongation and torsades de pointes, and methadone also prolongs QTc. The combination also increases sedation and respiratory depression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Droperidol and Methadone are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
Additive QTc prolongation through hERG potassium channel blockade, with additive central nervous system depression.
What to do
Avoid the combination and choose a non-QT-prolonging antiemetic or sedative. If it cannot be avoided, use continuous ECG monitoring and correct electrolytes first.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Methadone
- Alvimopan + Methadone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Methadone Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Methadone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Methadone Contraindicated
- Lefamulin + Methadone Contraindicated
- Levoketoconazole + Methadone Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Droperidol with Methadone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Droperidol and Methadone are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Droperidol carries a boxed warning for QT prolongation and torsades de pointes, and methadone also prolongs QTc. The combination also increases sedation and respiratory depression.
How serious is the interaction between Droperidol and Methadone?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination and choose a non-QT-prolonging antiemetic or sedative. If it cannot be avoided, use continuous ECG monitoring and correct electrolytes first.
What other medicines interact with Methadone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Methadone with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Ibutilide. The full list is on the Methadone page.
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