Drug interactions
Ketamine + Oxycodone
Severity: Moderate
Ketamine and Oxycodone: 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 combined with an opioid increases sedation and may add to respiratory depression, though low-dose ketamine is often used deliberately for opioid-sparing analgesia. Hypotension and psychomotor impairment may also be additive.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketamine and Oxycodone 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; Oxycodone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression from NMDA antagonism and opioid receptor agonism.
What to do
Monitor sedation level, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, and reduce the opioid dose as analgesia is achieved.
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 Oxycodone
- Alvimopan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketamine with Oxycodone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketamine and Oxycodone 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 combined with an opioid increases sedation and may add to respiratory depression, though low-dose ketamine is often used deliberately for opioid-sparing analgesia. Hypotension and psychomotor impairment may also be additive.
How serious is the interaction between Ketamine and Oxycodone?
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, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, and reduce the opioid dose as analgesia is achieved.
What other medicines interact with Oxycodone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Oxycodone with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Oxycodone page.
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