Drug interactions
Oxycodone + Valerian
Severity: Moderate
Oxycodone and Valerian: 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
Valerian has sedative properties and may add to opioid-induced drowsiness. Clinical data are limited and the effect is probably modest.
What this interaction means in plain words
Oxycodone and Valerian 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, possibly via GABAergic activity of valerian constituents.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid valerian while taking oxycodone, or monitor for excess sedation and avoid driving.
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 Oxycodone
- Alvimopan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Oxycodone with Valerian?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Oxycodone and Valerian 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. Valerian has sedative properties and may add to opioid-induced drowsiness. Clinical data are limited and the effect is probably modest.
How serious is the interaction between Oxycodone and Valerian?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid valerian while taking oxycodone, or monitor for excess sedation and avoid driving.
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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