Drug interactions
Hydromorphone + Pentobarbital
Severity: Major
Hydromorphone and Pentobarbital: 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
Barbiturates and opioids both depress the CNS and respiration, so combining them can cause profound sedation, respiratory failure and death. Pentobarbital may also induce hepatic enzymes, though this matters less for hydromorphone.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydromorphone and Pentobarbital 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 via GABA-A potentiation and opioid receptor agonism.
What to do
Avoid unless closely monitored in a setting able to support ventilation; reduce doses and monitor respiratory rate and sedation.
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 Hydromorphone
- Alvimopan + Hydromorphone Contraindicated
- Bupropion-naltrexone + Hydromorphone Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Hydromorphone + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydromorphone with Pentobarbital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Hydromorphone and Pentobarbital 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. Barbiturates and opioids both depress the CNS and respiration, so combining them can cause profound sedation, respiratory failure and death. Pentobarbital may also induce hepatic enzymes, though this matters less for hydromorphone.
How serious is the interaction between Hydromorphone and Pentobarbital?
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 unless closely monitored in a setting able to support ventilation; reduce doses and monitor respiratory rate and sedation.
What other medicines interact with Hydromorphone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydromorphone with, for example, Alvimopan, Bupropion-naltrexone, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Hydromorphone page.
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