Drug interactions
Pholcodine + Secobarbital
Severity: Moderate
Pholcodine and Secobarbital: 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 and, with a barbiturate, may add to sedation and respiratory depression. The risk is greater at higher doses and in the elderly or those with lung disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pholcodine and Secobarbital 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 opioid receptor agonism and barbiturate GABA-A potentiation.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and monitor for excessive sedation and slowed breathing; warn patients about 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 Secobarbital
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Doravirine + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elbasvir / grazoprevir + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Isavuconazonium + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Lonafarnib + Secobarbital Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pholcodine with Secobarbital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pholcodine and Secobarbital 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 and, with a barbiturate, may add to sedation and respiratory depression. The risk is greater at higher doses and in the elderly or those with lung disease.
How serious is the interaction between Pholcodine and Secobarbital?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective doses and monitor for excessive sedation and slowed breathing; warn patients about driving.
What other medicines interact with Secobarbital?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Secobarbital with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Doravirine, Elbasvir / grazoprevir. The full list is on the Secobarbital page.
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