Drug interactions
Gabapentin + Meperidine
Severity: Major
Gabapentin and Meperidine: 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
Gabapentin adds to the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of meperidine. The combination can cause marked drowsiness and potentially fatal respiratory depression, particularly in older adults and patients with renal impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gabapentin and Meperidine 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.
Gabapentin belongs to Central Nervous System; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression through pharmacodynamic synergism.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and titrate slowly. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, and adjust the gabapentin dose to renal function.
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 Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Gabapentin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gabapentin with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Gabapentin and Meperidine 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. Gabapentin adds to the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of meperidine. The combination can cause marked drowsiness and potentially fatal respiratory depression, particularly in older adults and patients with renal impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Gabapentin and Meperidine?
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 and titrate slowly. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, and adjust the gabapentin dose to renal function.
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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