Drug interactions
Phenelzine + Remifentanil
Severity: Contraindicated
Phenelzine and Remifentanil: 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
Opioids given with MAO inhibitors can cause serious reactions including serotonin syndrome or severe CNS depression. Labeling for opioids advises against use with MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping them.
What this interaction means in plain words
Phenelzine and Remifentanil 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.
Phenelzine belongs to Central Nervous System; Remifentanil belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
MAO inhibition increases monoamine levels and may potentiate opioid effects, risking serotonin toxicity and CNS depression.
What to do
Avoid remifentanil in patients taking an MAOI or within 14 days of stopping one; choose an alternative anesthetic or analgesic plan. If unavoidable, monitor continuously for serotonin toxicity and hemodynamic instability.
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 Remifentanil
- Alvimopan + Remifentanil Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Remifentanil Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Remifentanil Contraindicated
- Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen + Remifentanil Major
- Brexanolone + Remifentanil Major
- Buprenorphine long-acting + Remifentanil Major
Other interactions of Phenelzine
- 5-HTP + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Atomoxetine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Benzphetamine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Phenelzine with Remifentanil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Phenelzine and Remifentanil 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. Opioids given with MAO inhibitors can cause serious reactions including serotonin syndrome or severe CNS depression. Labeling for opioids advises against use with MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping them.
How serious is the interaction between Phenelzine and Remifentanil?
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 remifentanil in patients taking an MAOI or within 14 days of stopping one; choose an alternative anesthetic or analgesic plan. If unavoidable, monitor continuously for serotonin toxicity and hemodynamic instability.
What other medicines interact with Remifentanil?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Remifentanil with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Remifentanil page.
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