Drug interactions
Oxycodone + Sodium oxybate
Severity: Contraindicated
Oxycodone and Sodium oxybate: contraindicated 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
Both agents depress the central nervous system, and together they can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Sodium oxybate labeling warns against concomitant use with other CNS depressants.
What this interaction means in plain words
Oxycodone and Sodium oxybate are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Oxycodone belongs to Musculoskeletal; Sodium oxybate belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression through GABA-B/GHB receptor agonism and mu-opioid receptor agonism.
What to do
Avoid the combination; if opioid therapy is essential, consider alternative treatment for the oxybate indication. If used, give minimum doses and monitor respiration closely.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Oxycodone
- Alvimopan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Sodium oxybate
- Alprazolam + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Butorphanol + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Chloral hydrate + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Clonazepam + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Clorazepate + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Oxycodone with Sodium oxybate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Oxycodone and Sodium oxybate are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Both agents depress the central nervous system, and together they can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Sodium oxybate labeling warns against concomitant use with other CNS depressants.
How serious is the interaction between Oxycodone and Sodium oxybate?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination; if opioid therapy is essential, consider alternative treatment for the oxybate indication. If used, give minimum doses and monitor respiration closely.
What other medicines interact with Oxycodone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Oxycodone with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Oxycodone page.
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