Drug interactions
Hydrocodone + Loxapine inhaled
Severity: Major
Hydrocodone and Loxapine inhaled: 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
Loxapine is a sedating antipsychotic that adds to the CNS depressant effects of opioids. Concurrent use can produce marked sedation and respiratory depression. Inhaled loxapine also carries a risk of bronchospasm, which makes respiratory compromise more concerning.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocodone and Loxapine inhaled 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 from opioid agonism and loxapine sedation.
What to do
Avoid if possible; if used, give the lowest effective hydrocodone dose and observe the patient for sedation and respiratory depression after loxapine administration. Make sure a bronchodilator is available.
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 Hydrocodone
- Alvimopan + Hydrocodone Contraindicated
- Bupropion-naltrexone + Hydrocodone Contraindicated
- Hydrocodone + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Hydrocodone + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Hydrocodone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Hydrocodone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocodone with Loxapine inhaled?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Hydrocodone and Loxapine inhaled 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. Loxapine is a sedating antipsychotic that adds to the CNS depressant effects of opioids. Concurrent use can produce marked sedation and respiratory depression. Inhaled loxapine also carries a risk of bronchospasm, which makes respiratory compromise more concerning.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocodone and Loxapine inhaled?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid if possible; if used, give the lowest effective hydrocodone dose and observe the patient for sedation and respiratory depression after loxapine administration. Make sure a bronchodilator is available.
What other medicines interact with Hydrocodone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydrocodone with, for example, Alvimopan, Bupropion-naltrexone, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Hydrocodone page.
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