Drug interactions
Ketamine + Tramadol
Severity: Moderate
Ketamine and Tramadol: 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 and tramadol both cause CNS depression, so combined use can increase sedation, dizziness and respiratory depression. Both agents may also affect seizure threshold and blood pressure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketamine and Tramadol 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; Tramadol belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depressant effects of an opioid and an NMDA antagonist anesthetic.
What to do
Titrate doses carefully and monitor sedation level, respiratory rate and oxygenation. Ensure monitoring is appropriate to the setting.
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 Tramadol, 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 Tramadol
- Isocarboxazid + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Tramadol Contraindicated
- Safinamide + Tramadol Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketamine with Tramadol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketamine and Tramadol 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 and tramadol both cause CNS depression, so combined use can increase sedation, dizziness and respiratory depression. Both agents may also affect seizure threshold and blood pressure.
How serious is the interaction between Ketamine and Tramadol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Titrate doses carefully and monitor sedation level, respiratory rate and oxygenation. Ensure monitoring is appropriate to the setting.
What other medicines interact with Tramadol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tramadol with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Tramadol 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.
