Drug interactions
Lidocaine + Mefloquine
Severity: Moderate
Lidocaine and Mefloquine: 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
Mefloquine has cardiac conduction effects and can prolong QT, and systemic lidocaine can affect conduction and cause bradycardia or arrhythmia in toxicity. Combined use may increase risk of conduction abnormalities, although lidocaine itself is not a typical QT-prolonging agent.
What this interaction means in plain words
Lidocaine and Mefloquine 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.
Lidocaine belongs to Cardiovascular; Mefloquine belongs to Anti Parasitic.
Why it happens
Additive effects on cardiac conduction and repolarization; the clinical relevance is largely theoretical.
What to do
With systemic or intravenous lidocaine in a patient taking mefloquine, monitor the ECG and keep doses at the lowest effective level. Routine local or topical use needs no change.
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 Mefloquine
- Arsenic trioxide + Mefloquine Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Mefloquine Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Mefloquine Contraindicated
- Levoketoconazole + Mefloquine Contraindicated
- Mefloquine + Nilotinib Contraindicated
- Mefloquine + Pimozide Contraindicated
Other interactions of Lidocaine
- Bupivacaine liposome + Lidocaine Major
- Disopyramide + Lidocaine Major
- Ex vivo expanded autologous human corneal epithelial cells containing stem cells + Lidocaine Major
- Lidocaine + Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir Major
- Lidocaine + Ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir and dasabuvir Major
- Lidocaine + Pimozide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Lidocaine with Mefloquine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Lidocaine and Mefloquine 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. Mefloquine has cardiac conduction effects and can prolong QT, and systemic lidocaine can affect conduction and cause bradycardia or arrhythmia in toxicity. Combined use may increase risk of conduction abnormalities, although lidocaine itself is not a typical QT-prolonging agent.
How serious is the interaction between Lidocaine and Mefloquine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: With systemic or intravenous lidocaine in a patient taking mefloquine, monitor the ECG and keep doses at the lowest effective level. Routine local or topical use needs no change.
What other medicines interact with Mefloquine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mefloquine with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Dronedarone, Ibutilide. The full list is on the Mefloquine page.
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