Drug interactions
Fluphenazine + Meperidine
Severity: Moderate
Fluphenazine 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
Both drugs depress the CNS, so combined use can increase sedation, hypotension and respiratory depression. Meperidine has serotonergic activity, and antipsychotics may occasionally add to serotonin toxicity or neuroleptic malignant syndrome risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Fluphenazine 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.
Fluphenazine belongs to Central Nervous System; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression, with possible serotonergic and dopaminergic effects overlapping.
What to do
Start with lower meperidine doses and monitor sedation, respiratory rate and blood pressure. Watch for agitation, hyperthermia, clonus or rigidity and stop the drugs if these appear.
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 Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Fluphenazine
- Arsenic trioxide + Fluphenazine Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Fluphenazine Contraindicated
- Fluphenazine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Fluphenazine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Fluphenazine Major
- Alfentanil + Fluphenazine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Fluphenazine with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Fluphenazine 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. Both drugs depress the CNS, so combined use can increase sedation, hypotension and respiratory depression. Meperidine has serotonergic activity, and antipsychotics may occasionally add to serotonin toxicity or neuroleptic malignant syndrome risk.
How serious is the interaction between Fluphenazine 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: Start with lower meperidine doses and monitor sedation, respiratory rate and blood pressure. Watch for agitation, hyperthermia, clonus or rigidity and stop the drugs if these appear.
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.
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