Drug interactions
Gabapentin enacarbil + Meperidine
Severity: Major
Gabapentin enacarbil 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
Gabapentinoids add to opioid-induced sedation and respiratory depression. The risk is higher in older patients, those with lung disease or renal impairment, and at higher doses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gabapentin enacarbil 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 enacarbil belongs to Central Nervous System; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression (gabapentin enacarbil is a prodrug of gabapentin).
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and start low with dose titration. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, particularly in high-risk patients.
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 enacarbil
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gabapentin enacarbil with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Gabapentin enacarbil 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. Gabapentinoids add to opioid-induced sedation and respiratory depression. The risk is higher in older patients, those with lung disease or renal impairment, and at higher doses.
How serious is the interaction between Gabapentin enacarbil 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 start low with dose titration. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, particularly in high-risk patients.
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.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
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