Drug interactions
Fentanyl + Nitrous oxide
Severity: Moderate
Fentanyl and Nitrous oxide: 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
Nitrous oxide is a CNS-depressant anesthetic gas and fentanyl is a potent opioid. Their combination deepens sedation and anesthesia and can cause respiratory depression and hypotension.
What this interaction means in plain words
Fentanyl and Nitrous oxide 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 CNS and respiratory depression from different anesthetic and analgesic mechanisms.
What to do
Titrate each agent carefully and monitor ventilation, oxygen saturation and blood pressure continuously. Reduce the dose of fentanyl when nitrous oxide is used.
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 Fentanyl
- Alvimopan + Fentanyl Contraindicated
- Fentanyl + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Fentanyl + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Fentanyl + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Fentanyl + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Fentanyl Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Fentanyl with Nitrous oxide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Fentanyl and Nitrous oxide 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. Nitrous oxide is a CNS-depressant anesthetic gas and fentanyl is a potent opioid. Their combination deepens sedation and anesthesia and can cause respiratory depression and hypotension.
How serious is the interaction between Fentanyl and Nitrous oxide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Titrate each agent carefully and monitor ventilation, oxygen saturation and blood pressure continuously. Reduce the dose of fentanyl when nitrous oxide is used.
What other medicines interact with Fentanyl?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Fentanyl with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Fentanyl page.
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