Drug interactions
Meperidine + Pregabalin
Severity: Major
Meperidine and Pregabalin: major 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
Pregabalin adds to the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of meperidine. The combination can cause profound sedation and potentially fatal respiratory depression, especially in at-risk patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Meperidine and Pregabalin can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Meperidine belongs to Musculoskeletal; Pregabalin belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression through pharmacodynamic synergism.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and titrate cautiously. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, particularly in the elderly and those with renal impairment or lung disease.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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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 Pregabalin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Meperidine with Pregabalin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Meperidine and Pregabalin can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Pregabalin adds to the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of meperidine. The combination can cause profound sedation and potentially fatal respiratory depression, especially in at-risk patients.
How serious is the interaction between Meperidine and Pregabalin?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective doses and titrate cautiously. Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, particularly in the elderly and those with renal impairment or lung disease.
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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