Drug interactions
Ketamine + Metoprolol
Severity: Moderate
Ketamine and Metoprolol: 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
Ketamine usually stimulates the sympathetic system, but in patients on beta-blockers this may be blunted, and its direct myocardial depressant effect can unmask hypotension and reduced cardiac output. The effect is mostly relevant in anesthesia of patients with limited cardiac reserve.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketamine and Metoprolol 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; Metoprolol belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Beta-blockade attenuates ketamine's sympathomimetic compensation, leaving myocardial depression and vasodilation unopposed.
What to do
Continue the beta-blocker perioperatively as indicated and monitor blood pressure and heart rate closely, titrating ketamine slowly.
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 Metoprolol, 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 Metoprolol
- Metoprolol + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Amifostine + Metoprolol Major
- Amiodarone + Metoprolol Major
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Metoprolol Major
- Atenolol + Metoprolol Major
- Betaxolol + Metoprolol Major
Other interactions of Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketamine with Metoprolol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketamine and Metoprolol 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 usually stimulates the sympathetic system, but in patients on beta-blockers this may be blunted, and its direct myocardial depressant effect can unmask hypotension and reduced cardiac output. The effect is mostly relevant in anesthesia of patients with limited cardiac reserve.
How serious is the interaction between Ketamine and Metoprolol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Continue the beta-blocker perioperatively as indicated and monitor blood pressure and heart rate closely, titrating ketamine slowly.
What other medicines interact with Metoprolol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Metoprolol with, for example, Thioridazine, Amifostine, Amiodarone. The full list is on the Metoprolol 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.
