Drug interactions
Morphine + Pholcodine
Severity: Moderate
Morphine and Pholcodine: 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
Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive, and taking it with morphine adds to opioid effects such as drowsiness and respiratory depression. The risk is greatest in elderly or opioid-naive patients and with higher doses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Morphine and Pholcodine 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 opioid receptor-mediated CNS and respiratory depression.
What to do
Avoid adding pholcodine to a patient already on morphine where possible, and monitor for sedation and slowed breathing if both are used.
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 Morphine
- Alvimopan + Morphine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Morphine Contraindicated
- Morphine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Morphine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Morphine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Morphine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Morphine with Pholcodine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Morphine and Pholcodine 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. Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive, and taking it with morphine adds to opioid effects such as drowsiness and respiratory depression. The risk is greatest in elderly or opioid-naive patients and with higher doses.
How serious is the interaction between Morphine and Pholcodine?
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 pholcodine to a patient already on morphine where possible, and monitor for sedation and slowed breathing if both are used.
What other medicines interact with Morphine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Morphine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Morphine page.
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