Drug interactions
Papaveretum + Tapentadol
Severity: Major
Papaveretum and Tapentadol: major 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
Papaveretum is a mixture of opium alkaloids that includes morphine, so combining it with tapentadol duplicates opioid therapy. This increases the risk of profound sedation, respiratory depression and overdose.
What this interaction means in plain words
Papaveretum and Tapentadol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive mu-opioid receptor agonism causing CNS and respiratory depression.
What to do
Avoid giving both unless a transition or specialist plan requires it, and reduce doses accordingly. Monitor respiratory rate and sedation closely.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Papaveretum and Tapentadol, 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 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Tapentadol
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Tapentadol Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Tapentadol Contraindicated
- Linezolid + Tapentadol Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Tapentadol Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Tapentadol Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Tapentadol Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Papaveretum with Tapentadol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Papaveretum and Tapentadol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Papaveretum is a mixture of opium alkaloids that includes morphine, so combining it with tapentadol duplicates opioid therapy. This increases the risk of profound sedation, respiratory depression and overdose.
How serious is the interaction between Papaveretum and Tapentadol?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid giving both unless a transition or specialist plan requires it, and reduce doses accordingly. Monitor respiratory rate and sedation closely.
What other medicines interact with Tapentadol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tapentadol with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Isocarboxazid, Linezolid. The full list is on the Tapentadol 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.
