Drug interactions
Etomidate + Meperidine
Severity: Moderate
Etomidate and Meperidine: 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
Etomidate is an anaesthetic induction agent, and opioids such as meperidine add to its sedative and respiratory depressant effects. Hypotension and apnoea may be more pronounced, and the pair is mostly used in monitored settings.
What this interaction means in plain words
Etomidate and Meperidine 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.
Etomidate belongs to Central Nervous System; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression via GABA-A potentiation and opioid receptor agonism.
What to do
Give in monitored settings with airway equipment available, and titrate doses to effect. Monitor ventilation, oxygen saturation and blood pressure.
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 Etomidate and Meperidine, 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 Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Etomidate
- Alprazolam + Etomidate Moderate
- Amitriptyline + Etomidate Moderate
- Amobarbital + Etomidate Moderate
- Azelastine + Etomidate Moderate
- Baclofen + Etomidate Moderate
- Brompheniramine + Etomidate Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Etomidate with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Etomidate and Meperidine 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. Etomidate is an anaesthetic induction agent, and opioids such as meperidine add to its sedative and respiratory depressant effects. Hypotension and apnoea may be more pronounced, and the pair is mostly used in monitored settings.
How serious is the interaction between Etomidate and Meperidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give in monitored settings with airway equipment available, and titrate doses to effect. Monitor ventilation, oxygen saturation and blood pressure.
What other medicines interact with Meperidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Meperidine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue. The full list is on the Meperidine 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.
