Drug interactions
Gabapentin enacarbil + Tramadol
Severity: Major
Gabapentin enacarbil and Tramadol: 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
Opioids combined with gabapentinoids increase the risk of profound sedation and respiratory depression. The risk is greater in older patients and those with renal impairment or respiratory disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gabapentin enacarbil and Tramadol 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; Tramadol belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression through different pharmacodynamic pathways.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses for the shortest duration and monitor for sedation and respiratory depression. Reduce doses in renal impairment and in elderly 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 Tramadol
- Isocarboxazid + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Safinamide + Tramadol Contraindicated
Other interactions of Gabapentin enacarbil
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gabapentin enacarbil with Tramadol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Gabapentin enacarbil and Tramadol 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. Opioids combined with gabapentinoids increase the risk of profound sedation and respiratory depression. The risk is greater in older patients and those with renal impairment or respiratory disease.
How serious is the interaction between Gabapentin enacarbil and Tramadol?
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 for the shortest duration and monitor for sedation and respiratory depression. Reduce doses in renal impairment and in elderly patients.
What other medicines interact with Tramadol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tramadol with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Tramadol page.
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