Drug interactions
Ketamine + Lemborexant
Severity: Moderate
Ketamine and Lemborexant: 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
Lemborexant is a sedative-hypnotic that adds to the CNS depressant effects of ketamine, which may cause excess sedation and psychomotor impairment. A minor enzyme-induction effect on ketamine is also possible but is less important clinically.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketamine and Lemborexant 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.
Ketamine belongs to Central Nervous System; Lemborexant belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through orexin receptor antagonism plus ketamine's NMDA-mediated effects; possible weak CYP2B6 induction.
What to do
Monitor sedation level and respiratory status when combined, and reduce the dose of either drug if excessive drowsiness occurs. Counsel outpatients about impaired alertness.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Ketamine and Lemborexant, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Ketamine
Other interactions of Lemborexant
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketamine with Lemborexant?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketamine and Lemborexant 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. Lemborexant is a sedative-hypnotic that adds to the CNS depressant effects of ketamine, which may cause excess sedation and psychomotor impairment. A minor enzyme-induction effect on ketamine is also possible but is less important clinically.
How serious is the interaction between Ketamine and Lemborexant?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor sedation level and respiratory status when combined, and reduce the dose of either drug if excessive drowsiness occurs. Counsel outpatients about impaired alertness.
What other medicines interact with Ketamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ketamine with, for example, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen, Brexanolone, Buprenorphine buccal. The full list is on the Ketamine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
