Drug interactions
Epinephrine racemic + Salmeterol
Severity: Moderate
Epinephrine racemic and Salmeterol: 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
Racemic epinephrine has beta-agonist and alpha-agonist effects, so combining it with salmeterol can intensify tachycardia, hypertension, tremor and hypokalemia. Risk is greater with cardiac disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Epinephrine racemic and Salmeterol 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.
Why it happens
Additive adrenergic receptor stimulation with beta-2 mediated potassium shift.
What to do
Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, ECG when indicated and serum potassium. Use the lowest effective doses.
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 Epinephrine racemic and Salmeterol, 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 Salmeterol
- Ritonavir + Salmeterol Contraindicated
- Salmeterol + Saquinavir Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Salmeterol Major
- Arformoterol + Salmeterol Major
- Atazanavir + Salmeterol Major
- Budesonide-formoterol + Salmeterol Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Epinephrine racemic with Salmeterol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Epinephrine racemic and Salmeterol 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. Racemic epinephrine has beta-agonist and alpha-agonist effects, so combining it with salmeterol can intensify tachycardia, hypertension, tremor and hypokalemia. Risk is greater with cardiac disease.
How serious is the interaction between Epinephrine racemic and Salmeterol?
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 heart rate, blood pressure, ECG when indicated and serum potassium. Use the lowest effective doses.
What other medicines interact with Salmeterol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Salmeterol with, for example, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Amitriptyline. The full list is on the Salmeterol 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.
