Drug interactions
Paliperidone + Pholcodine
Severity: Moderate
Paliperidone 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 with mild sedative properties, and paliperidone also causes sedation. Taken together they may produce additive drowsiness and impaired alertness, particularly at higher doses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Paliperidone 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 CNS depression from the antipsychotic and the opioid antitussive.
What to do
Monitor for excessive drowsiness and advise patients to avoid driving until the response is known. Use the lowest effective pholcodine dose for the shortest time.
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 Paliperidone
- Ibutilide + Paliperidone Contraindicated
- Paliperidone + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Paliperidone + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Paliperidone Major
- Amiodarone + Paliperidone Major
- Amisulpride + Paliperidone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Paliperidone with Pholcodine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Paliperidone 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 with mild sedative properties, and paliperidone also causes sedation. Taken together they may produce additive drowsiness and impaired alertness, particularly at higher doses.
How serious is the interaction between Paliperidone 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: Monitor for excessive drowsiness and advise patients to avoid driving until the response is known. Use the lowest effective pholcodine dose for the shortest time.
What other medicines interact with Paliperidone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Paliperidone with, for example, Ibutilide, Pimozide, Vandetanib. The full list is on the Paliperidone page.
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