Drug interactions
Meperidine + Trifluoperazine
Severity: Moderate
Meperidine and Trifluoperazine: 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
Meperidine and the phenothiazine trifluoperazine add to sedation, hypotension and respiratory depression. Meperidine's serotonergic properties combined with antipsychotics also raise a theoretical risk of serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
What this interaction means in plain words
Meperidine and Trifluoperazine 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.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and possible serotonergic and dopamine-blocking effects.
What to do
Reduce initial doses and monitor sedation, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Watch for hyperthermia, rigidity, clonus and mental status changes.
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 Meperidine and Trifluoperazine, 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 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Meperidine
- Alvimopan + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Meperidine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Meperidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Meperidine with Trifluoperazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Meperidine and Trifluoperazine 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 and the phenothiazine trifluoperazine add to sedation, hypotension and respiratory depression. Meperidine's serotonergic properties combined with antipsychotics also raise a theoretical risk of serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
How serious is the interaction between Meperidine and Trifluoperazine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Reduce initial doses and monitor sedation, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Watch for hyperthermia, rigidity, clonus and mental status changes.
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.
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.
