Drug interactions
Ketamine + Timolol
Severity: Moderate
Ketamine and Timolol: 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 support may be blunted. Direct myocardial depression from ketamine can then be unmasked, producing hypotension or reduced cardiac output.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketamine and Timolol 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; Timolol belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Beta-blockade blunts ketamine's sympathomimetic effects, leaving additive cardiovascular depression.
What to do
Continue beta-blocker therapy perioperatively and monitor blood pressure and heart rate closely during induction. Titrate the ketamine dose carefully.
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 Timolol
- Acebutolol + Timolol Major
- Albuterol + Timolol Major
- Aldesleukin + Timolol Major
- Amifostine + Timolol Major
- Amiodarone + Timolol Major
- Arformoterol + Timolol Major
Other interactions of Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketamine with Timolol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketamine and Timolol 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 support may be blunted. Direct myocardial depression from ketamine can then be unmasked, producing hypotension or reduced cardiac output.
How serious is the interaction between Ketamine and Timolol?
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 beta-blocker therapy perioperatively and monitor blood pressure and heart rate closely during induction. Titrate the ketamine dose carefully.
What other medicines interact with Timolol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Timolol with, for example, Acebutolol, Albuterol, Aldesleukin. The full list is on the Timolol page.
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