Tramadol/Meperidine Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

Both of these medicines can depress the central nervous system (CNS) and increase the level of serotonin in your body.

What might happen:

Concurrent use can result in extreme sleepiness, slowed or difficult breathing, coma, or death.High serotonin levels may cause changes in body temperature, blood pressure, muscles and behavior, leading to a medical condition called Serotonin Syndrome. The symptoms of this syndrome can vary from mild to severe. Severe cases of Serotonin Syndrome may be life threatening.

What you should do about this interaction:

Let your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together.Seek medical attention immediately if you develop unusual dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness, slowed or difficult breathing, or unresponsiveness. If you experience muscle twitching, tremors, shivering and stiffness, fever, heavy sweating, heart palpitations, restlessness, confusion, agitation, trouble with coordination, or severe diarrhea contact your doctor right away.Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should have naloxone available to treat opioid overdose. Teach your family or household members about the signs of an opioid overdose and how to treat it. If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, give them naloxone if available, then call 911. If the person is awake and has no symptoms, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow/shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, coma.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

View Reference
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