Drug interactions
Etomidate + Methadone
Severity: Moderate
Etomidate 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
Etomidate is an anaesthetic induction agent, and opioids such as methadone add to its sedative and respiratory depressant effects. This is expected and usually manageable in monitored anaesthetic settings.
What this interaction means in plain words
Etomidate 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.
Etomidate belongs to Central Nervous System; Methadone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive central nervous system depression from opioid agonism and GABA-A potentiation.
What to do
Tell the anaesthesia team about methadone use and titrate induction doses to effect. Monitor ventilation and haemodynamics continuously.
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 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 Methadone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Etomidate 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. Etomidate is an anaesthetic induction agent, and opioids such as methadone add to its sedative and respiratory depressant effects. This is expected and usually manageable in monitored anaesthetic settings.
How serious is the interaction between Etomidate 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: Tell the anaesthesia team about methadone use and titrate induction doses to effect. Monitor ventilation and haemodynamics continuously.
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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