respiratory depression
8 interactions related to respiratory depression
alcohol + alprazolam
Alcohol and alprazolam (Xanax) both depress the central nervous system through GABA-A receptor potentiation, producing additive sedation, profound respiratory depression, and impaired psychomotor function. The combination significantly increases risk of overdose death, even at moderate doses of each substance.
alcohol + diazepam
Diazepam (Valium) and alcohol are both GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulators, producing additive and supra-additive CNS depression with profound risk of respiratory depression, coma, and death. Diazepam's long half-life and active metabolites extend the window of dangerous interaction far beyond the dosing interval.
alcohol + pregabalin
Pregabalin (Lyrica) and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants with additive effects on sedation, coordination, and respiratory drive. The FDA's 2019 Drug Safety Communication warned that pregabalin can cause life-threatening respiratory depression when combined with CNS depressants such as alcohol, particularly with opioids or in patients with lung disease.
alcohol + tramadol
Tramadol combined with alcohol produces additive CNS and respiratory depression, and the combination significantly lowers the seizure threshold, increasing the risk of convulsions, serotonin syndrome, and overdose death. Tramadol has unique serotonergic and noradrenergic activity that compounds alcohol's effects beyond what occurs with pure opioids.
alcohol + codeine
Codeine combined with alcohol produces additive CNS and respiratory depression, with risk of fatal overdose particularly elevated in CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolizers who convert codeine to morphine rapidly. The combination also increases sedation, impaired judgment, and the risk of accidents.
alcohol + hydrocodone
Hydrocodone combined with alcohol produces dangerous additive CNS and respiratory depression with high risk of fatal overdose. Extended-release hydrocodone formulations can experience dose dumping when combined with alcohol, releasing the entire dose at once and causing potentially lethal blood concentrations.
alcohol + gabapentin
Gabapentin and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants. The FDA issued a 2019 Drug Safety Communication warning that gabapentin can cause serious, potentially fatal respiratory depression when combined with CNS depressants including alcohol, particularly in older adults and patients with respiratory disease.
alcohol + oxycodone
Combining alcohol with oxycodone causes additive central nervous system and respiratory depression, dramatically increasing the risk of fatal overdose, sedation, and impaired breathing. Alcohol can also accelerate the release of oxycodone from extended-release formulations, causing dangerous spikes in blood levels.