Drug interactions
Hydroxyzine + Meperidine
Severity: Moderate
Hydroxyzine and Meperidine: moderate 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
Hydroxyzine is a sedating antihistamine and adds to the CNS and respiratory depression of meperidine. Anticholinergic effects may also add to confusion in older adults.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydroxyzine and Meperidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Hydroxyzine belongs to Respiratory; Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depressant effects of an opioid and a sedating H1 antihistamine.
What to do
Reduce the dose of one or both drugs and monitor sedation and respiratory rate, especially in elderly patients.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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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 Hydroxyzine
- Droperidol + Hydroxyzine Contraindicated
- Hydroxyzine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Hydroxyzine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Hydroxyzine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Hydroxyzine Major
- Amiodarone + Hydroxyzine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydroxyzine with Meperidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydroxyzine and Meperidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Hydroxyzine is a sedating antihistamine and adds to the CNS and respiratory depression of meperidine. Anticholinergic effects may also add to confusion in older adults.
How serious is the interaction between Hydroxyzine and Meperidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Reduce the dose of one or both drugs and monitor sedation and respiratory rate, especially in elderly 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.
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