Drug interactions
Meperidine + Pentazocine
Severity: Moderate
Meperidine and Pentazocine: 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
Pentazocine is an opioid agonist-antagonist that may add to sedation and respiratory depression with meperidine. In opioid-dependent patients it can reduce analgesia and precipitate withdrawal. Pentazocine can also cause psychotomimetic effects.
What this interaction means in plain words
Meperidine and Pentazocine 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.
Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal; Pentazocine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Pentazocine's kappa agonism and partial mu antagonism competes with meperidine at opioid receptors, causing additive CNS depression or withdrawal.
What to do
Avoid adding pentazocine in patients on regular meperidine. If both are used, monitor respiratory rate, sedation and withdrawal signs.
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 Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Pentazocine
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Pentazocine Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Pentazocine Contraindicated
- Pentazocine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Pentazocine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Pentazocine Major
- Alprazolam + Pentazocine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Meperidine with Pentazocine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Meperidine and Pentazocine 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. Pentazocine is an opioid agonist-antagonist that may add to sedation and respiratory depression with meperidine. In opioid-dependent patients it can reduce analgesia and precipitate withdrawal. Pentazocine can also cause psychotomimetic effects.
How serious is the interaction between Meperidine and Pentazocine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid adding pentazocine in patients on regular meperidine. If both are used, monitor respiratory rate, sedation and withdrawal signs.
What other medicines interact with Meperidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Meperidine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue. The full list is on the Meperidine page.
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