Drug interactions
Gabapentin + Levorphanol
Severity: Major
Gabapentin and Levorphanol: 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
Gabapentinoids taken with opioids increase the risk of profound sedation and respiratory depression. Regulators have warned about this combination, especially in older adults and in patients with lung disease. Fatal respiratory depression has been reported.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gabapentin and Levorphanol 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; gabapentin may also increase opioid effects through pharmacodynamic synergy.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses of both drugs and titrate cautiously, reducing the opioid dose if needed. Monitor for sedation and slowed breathing, and counsel patients and caregivers on warning signs.
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 Gabapentin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gabapentin with Levorphanol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Gabapentin and Levorphanol 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. Gabapentinoids taken with opioids increase the risk of profound sedation and respiratory depression. Regulators have warned about this combination, especially in older adults and in patients with lung disease. Fatal respiratory depression has been reported.
How serious is the interaction between Gabapentin and Levorphanol?
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 the lowest effective doses of both drugs and titrate cautiously, reducing the opioid dose if needed. Monitor for sedation and slowed breathing, and counsel patients and caregivers on warning signs.
What other medicines interact with Gabapentin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Gabapentin with, for example, Alprazolam, Amobarbital, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Gabapentin page.
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