Drug interactions
Esketamine + Oxazepam
Severity: Moderate
Esketamine and Oxazepam: 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
Oxazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine that causes sedation and psychomotor impairment. With esketamine it may increase sedation and dissociation-related impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Esketamine and Oxazepam 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.
Esketamine belongs to Central Nervous System; Oxazepam belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from GABA-A potentiation and NMDA receptor antagonism.
What to do
Monitor sedation level during the post-dose observation period. Use the lowest effective benzodiazepine dose and avoid dosing right before sessions.
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 Esketamine and Oxazepam, 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 Esketamine
Other interactions of Oxazepam
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Oxazepam Contraindicated
- Oxazepam + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Oxazepam Major
- Amobarbital + Oxazepam Major
- Baclofen + Oxazepam Major
- Belladonna and opium + Oxazepam Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Esketamine with Oxazepam?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Esketamine and Oxazepam 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. Oxazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine that causes sedation and psychomotor impairment. With esketamine it may increase sedation and dissociation-related impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Esketamine and Oxazepam?
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 sedation level during the post-dose observation period. Use the lowest effective benzodiazepine dose and avoid dosing right before sessions.
What other medicines interact with Esketamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Esketamine with, for example, Alfentanil, Amobarbital, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Esketamine 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.
