Drug interactions
Fentanyl transmucosal + Lorazepam
Severity: Major
Fentanyl transmucosal and Lorazepam: major 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
Concurrent benzodiazepine and transmucosal fentanyl use can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Rapid absorption of transmucosal fentanyl makes the effect abrupt.
What this interaction means in plain words
Fentanyl transmucosal and Lorazepam can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression via GABA-A potentiation and mu-opioid receptor agonism.
What to do
Use together only when alternatives are inadequate, with the lowest doses and shortest duration. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression and have naloxone available.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Lorazepam
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Fentanyl transmucosal with Lorazepam?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Fentanyl transmucosal and Lorazepam can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Concurrent benzodiazepine and transmucosal fentanyl use can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Rapid absorption of transmucosal fentanyl makes the effect abrupt.
How serious is the interaction between Fentanyl transmucosal and Lorazepam?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use together only when alternatives are inadequate, with the lowest doses and shortest duration. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression and have naloxone available.
What other medicines interact with Lorazepam?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Lorazepam with, for example, Alfentanil, Alprazolam, Amobarbital. The full list is on the Lorazepam page.
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