Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR CLOSELY: Coadministration of ketamine with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. In addition, opioid analgesics, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines may prolong the time to complete recovery from anesthesia.

MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of ketamine with other CNS depressants, including alcohol, close monitoring of neurologic status and respiratory parameters, including respiratory rate and pulse oximetry, is recommended. Dosage adjustments should be considered according to the patient's clinical situation. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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MONITOR CLOSELY: Coadministration of ketamine with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. In addition, opioid analgesics, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines may prolong the time to complete recovery from anesthesia.

MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of ketamine with other CNS depressants, including alcohol, close monitoring of neurologic status and respiratory parameters, including respiratory rate and pulse oximetry, is recommended. Dosage adjustments should be considered according to the patient's clinical situation. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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MONITOR: Central nervous system- and/or respiratory-depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased in patients taking multiple drugs that cause these effects, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. Sedation and impairment of attention, judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills may increase.

MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of these drugs, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS and respiratory depression. Cautious dosage titration may be required, particularly at treatment initiation. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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MONITOR: Ketamine can cause hemodynamic instability such as arrhythmias and transient increases or decreases in blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index. Coadministration of ketamine with direct or indirect acting sympathomimetics or vasopressin may enhance the sympathomimetic effects of ketamine leading to additive increases in blood pressure and heart rate.

MANAGEMENT: Close monitoring of vital signs, including blood pressure and heart rate is recommended whenever ketamine is used concomitantly with direct or indirect acting sympathomimetics or vasopressin. Dosage adjustments should be considered according to the patient's clinical situation. Some authorities suggest avoiding the use of ketamine in patients receiving drugs with a hypertensive effect such as ergometrine.

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MONITOR CLOSELY: Coadministration of ketamine with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. In addition, opioid analgesics, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines may prolong the time to complete recovery from anesthesia.

MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of ketamine with other CNS depressants, including alcohol, close monitoring of neurologic status and respiratory parameters, including respiratory rate and pulse oximetry, is recommended. Dosage adjustments should be considered according to the patient's clinical situation. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of ketamine. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system (CNS) depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration of oral ketamine with grapefruit juice may significantly increase the plasma concentrations of S(+) ketamine, the dextrorotatory enantiomer of ketamine. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit. Inhibition of hepatic CYP450 3A4 may also contribute. When a single 0.2 mg/kg dose of S(+) ketamine was administered orally on study day 5 with grapefruit juice (200 mL three times daily for 5 days) in 12 healthy volunteers, mean S(+) ketamine peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by 2.1- and 3.0-fold, respectively, compared to administration with water. In addition, the elimination half-life of S(+) ketamine increased by 24% with grapefruit juice, and the ratio of the main metabolite norketamine to ketamine was decreased by 57%. The pharmacodynamics of ketamine were also altered by grapefruit juice. Specifically, self-rated relaxation was decreased and performance in the digit symbol substitution test was increased with grapefruit juice, but other behavioral or analgesic effects were not affected.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving ketamine should not drink alcohol. Caution is advised when ketamine is used in patients with acute alcohol intoxication or a history of chronic alcoholism. Following anesthesia with ketamine, patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination, such as driving or operating hazardous machinery, for at least 24 hours and until they know how the medication affects them. Patients treated with oral ketamine should also avoid consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment. Otherwise, dosage reductions of oral ketamine should be considered.

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MONITOR: Coadministration of two or more sympathomimetic agents may increase the risk of adverse effects such as nervousness, irritability, and increased heart rate. Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, particularly amphetamines, can potentiate the adrenergic response to vasopressors and other sympathomimetic agents. Additive increases in blood pressure and heart rate may occur due to enhanced peripheral sympathetic activity.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if two or more sympathomimetic agents are coadministered. Pulse and blood pressure should be closely monitored.

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The recommended maximum number of medicines in the 'NMDA antagonists' category to be taken concurrently is usually one. Your list includes two medicines belonging to the 'NMDA antagonists' category:

• Ketalar (ketamine)
• M-End DM (chlorpheniramine / dextromethorphan / pseudoephedrine)

Note: In certain circumstances, the benefits of taking this combination of drugs may outweigh any risks. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or dosage.