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Can Oxycodone Interact with my Antidepressant?

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Prescription overdose and drug interactions account for thousands of deaths in the US every year. People are often less cautious about using prescription drugs because these substances come from medical professionals, so their risks seem minimal. However, everyone reacts differently to drugs, whether the drug is prescription, over-the-counter or illicit.

It’s important to remember that all drugs are chemical substances, so even those prescribed by a physician can cause adverse side effects. Many prescription drugs pose some risks when used in ways other than prescribed or when combined with other drugs, and this is especially true for antidepressants and oxycodone.1 Understanding how your prescriptions interact with each other can reduce the risk of dangerous side effects.
 

Use Caution

illustration of man examining brainIt is vital for patients to be straightforward with medical professionals about all drugs they are taking including supplements and over-the-counter medicines.

As insignificant as it may seem to report taking a multivitamin or an occasional alcoholic beverage, sharing information like this can prevent serious side effects, negative interactions and the possibility of aggravating a health issue. Even some foods can interact with drugs, so paying attention to the instructions written on the bottle, like “take with food,” or “take one hour after eating,” are important to prevent stomach upset or other food-related interactions.

People should know what they are putting into their bodies, and a quick internet search can yield considerable information about a drug’s short-term and long-term effects, its risks of use, what drugs it interacts with and how the drug affects mood and energy levels.

 

Mixing Oxycodone with Antidepressants

There are few substances that mix well with oxycodone.2 Anti-depressants are common prescription drugs that treat several psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depression and other conditions related to mood and behavior. There are a variety of antidepressants typically prescribed by doctors, so the risk for dangers drug interactions is increased when they are combined with other drugs.3
 
Some possible interactions that could occur when antidepressants are combined with oxycodone can include the following:

  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Dizziness
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Impaired cognition
  • Extreme depressive symptoms.

 

The following antidepressants are known to have dangerous interactions with oxycodone:
 

  • Isocarboxazid
  • Phenelzine
  • Rasagiline
  • Selegiline
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Effexor
  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Zoloft (Sertraline)
  • Trazodone
  • Prozac
  • Not only can the interaction between oxycodone and antidepressants cause fatal side effects, but it can also cause one drug to block the other. Individuals struggling with depression, anxiety or other serious medical conditions may trigger severe episodes. People on antidepressants may also notice that their medication is not working as it should. Individuals with depression put themselves at severe risk for suicide and other self-destructive tendencies when their antidepressant aren’t working appropriately.
     

    Finding Help for Substance Abuse

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    Sources

    1 Mills, David. “Why Opioids and Antidepressants Shouldn't Be Taken Together.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 31 Aug. 2016.

    2 Oxycodone: MedlinePlus Drug Information.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2018.

    3 Drug Reactions.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 17 Apr. 2018.

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