Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Harmful Interactions Of Diazepam And Gabapentin?
Question: I need your help. I need to know about interactions with Morphine Sulfate, Gabapentin and Diazepam, I almost died.
I was already on Diazepam when I was given Gabapentin 600 mg and Morphine Sulfate 1mm Rel 15 mg. Morphine was taken twice a day. Diazepam was 5.mg 3 times a day. I am 70 years old and can not get interactions with all three medications. An alert daughter realized something was wrong when I was asleep.
Medical History
On Estradiol,omeprazole, dicyclomine. Stomach problems. Was being treated for -spelling might be wrong- scatica
Gender : Female
Age : 70
I was already on Diazepam when I was given Gabapentin 600 mg and Morphine Sulfate 1mm Rel 15 mg. Morphine was taken twice a day. Diazepam was 5.mg 3 times a day. I am 70 years old and can not get interactions with all three medications. An alert daughter realized something was wrong when I was asleep.
Medical History
On Estradiol,omeprazole, dicyclomine. Stomach problems. Was being treated for -spelling might be wrong- scatica
Gender : Female
Age : 70
Brief Answer:
They all depress respiration and are sedating!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
Morphine and diazepam cause sedation and can depress respiration in significant doses. In extreme doses, this may lead to respiratory arrest that requires medical intervention. However, the doses of morphine and diazepam seem too small to be able to cause this in your case. Could you please describe the exact abnormality your daughter reported? My advice would be that you try not to take morphine and diazepam at the same time as the combined effect may causes excessive sedation.
Gabapentin has no possible interaction with these drugs.
In all, there is a possibility of excessive sedation and respiratory depression with significant doses. Your drug doses seem minimal and would not likely cause this.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarification if need be.
They all depress respiration and are sedating!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
Morphine and diazepam cause sedation and can depress respiration in significant doses. In extreme doses, this may lead to respiratory arrest that requires medical intervention. However, the doses of morphine and diazepam seem too small to be able to cause this in your case. Could you please describe the exact abnormality your daughter reported? My advice would be that you try not to take morphine and diazepam at the same time as the combined effect may causes excessive sedation.
Gabapentin has no possible interaction with these drugs.
In all, there is a possibility of excessive sedation and respiratory depression with significant doses. Your drug doses seem minimal and would not likely cause this.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarification if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi! I received your response, but you picked up some wrong information. I am 70 years old. I felt sick and that I needed to sleep. I was taking Morphine and diazepam together since April 9th. The Gabapentin was added April 21st. On May 3rd, I remember going to get my hair cut and coming home. I told my husband that I felt sick and went to bed. I remember nothing for two and one half days after that. My husband and grown daughter fed me tea and smoothies during that time. I remember nothing during that time. They recognized something was wrong when I was slurring my words. Please review your answer by adding my age into the loop. May 3rd was the last time I took the morphine sulfate. Does my age make a difference? If they had not helped, I do not know if I would have lived.
Brief Answer:
I think I got your age right! 70
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for following up with me. I have reviewed the information entirely again. Your age may play a role here in that elderly persons are more likely to manifest the effects of excess sedation even at lower doses than healthier and younger persons.
The excessive sedation, slurring of speech and no memories for 2days are too severe to have been explained by these medications alone unless you mistakenly took an excessive dose. Please, report this to your treating physician for review and a possible change of the dosages and/or drugs.
I hope this helps. feel free to come back and ask for more clarifications if need be.
I think I got your age right! 70
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for following up with me. I have reviewed the information entirely again. Your age may play a role here in that elderly persons are more likely to manifest the effects of excess sedation even at lower doses than healthier and younger persons.
The excessive sedation, slurring of speech and no memories for 2days are too severe to have been explained by these medications alone unless you mistakenly took an excessive dose. Please, report this to your treating physician for review and a possible change of the dosages and/or drugs.
I hope this helps. feel free to come back and ask for more clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have seen 2 of my regular doctors and they both said I was over medicated. I realize the danger of Morphine and did not take an excessive dose. I took the morphine and diazepam on the morning of May 3rd. I never took another dose after that. My doctors have checked me for a stroke and there was no stroke. They were both surprised that the doctor in question would give me morphine for sciactia (I know this is misspelled). Is it normal to prescribe morphine for this? It seems extreme. 70 is right. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
It is not extreme for Sciatica
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for following up.
I understand that morphine can be dangerous in elderly but, a dose of 15mg for an adult is very small. We generally avoid it but, should it be used, we keep the doses low. I think this is the concept your doctor is working on.
I am happy you have stopped it and probably doing a lot better. let us monitor your symptoms and see whether we shall have similar symptoms in future. If not, then may be this drug should have really been avoided at all in your case.
How have you been feeling being of this morphine? What about the symptoms of the sciatica? Is the pain tolerable or not?
Thanks and wish you well.
It is not extreme for Sciatica
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for following up.
I understand that morphine can be dangerous in elderly but, a dose of 15mg for an adult is very small. We generally avoid it but, should it be used, we keep the doses low. I think this is the concept your doctor is working on.
I am happy you have stopped it and probably doing a lot better. let us monitor your symptoms and see whether we shall have similar symptoms in future. If not, then may be this drug should have really been avoided at all in your case.
How have you been feeling being of this morphine? What about the symptoms of the sciatica? Is the pain tolerable or not?
Thanks and wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I never took another dose of morphine or gabapentin. I continue on my diazepam because I have been on that for several years. I went through withdrawals for the morphine and I was unable to drive a car until yesterday. If you list withdrawals from gabapentin, it matches perfectly. My doctor is monitoring me. I go XXXXXXX 24th for another check up. It has taken me this long to get better from May 3rd. I do not have any pain right now on the sciatica, but do at times. I told my doctor I will limp the rest of my life before I let anyone give me another medication for the pain. The doctor had given me an epidural during this time. I think April 29th, but am not sure of the date.The doctor in question gave me the morphine and gabapentin. I am being monitored by regular doctor. I would never set foot in the doctor in questions office again. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Happy to know you are doing better
Detailed Answer:
My greates wish is to know that you are doing better, having minimal pain and able to tolerate it. Following all the information you have provided, i will encourage you to continue with your regular doctors. feeling safe and secured in any doctors care is capital and this seems not to be the case with the doctor who prescribed the morphine. Should you keep away from him, I will not oppose to that.
However, I will like that you consider going back to him to tell him what you experienced. it may save other lives down the road if that has been a practice that he regularly does to elderly.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.
Happy to know you are doing better
Detailed Answer:
My greates wish is to know that you are doing better, having minimal pain and able to tolerate it. Following all the information you have provided, i will encourage you to continue with your regular doctors. feeling safe and secured in any doctors care is capital and this seems not to be the case with the doctor who prescribed the morphine. Should you keep away from him, I will not oppose to that.
However, I will like that you consider going back to him to tell him what you experienced. it may save other lives down the road if that has been a practice that he regularly does to elderly.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I agree she should know. My doctor indicated that others had said things about her to him. I do want to say this. You may think it is ok to put someone on morphine, but the 3rd leading cause of death in this county is doctors and over medicating and they are getting away with it. I am sure there are safer medications that are available. The area I live in has an older population and she will be responsible for someone's death. My doctor said it was poor judgement on her part. A doctor should not have poor judgement when they have someones life in their hands.
Brief Answer:
Thanks for this!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up.
I am happy you would let her know and in so doing, helping other patients down the road.
I will not be quick to put an elderly on morphine but, should that be the best option after a careful consideration, I will not hesitate to. This drug could have contributed to this but, it will not keep you down for 2.5days as you mentioned. Some other possibilities need to have been considered and monitored.
I am happy you feel very comfortable with your current doctor. As a professional, he should not talk of a colleague to you. He should encourage you to talk to the colleague yourself and not make derogatory comments about her. If he thinks she is not able to guarantee quality care to clients, he can as well signal the XXXXXXX medical association for intervention.
I agree with you that doctors should not have poor judgment. This is why I will strongly recommend you let her know what your worries and fears are and this may prove helpful to her.
Thank and I wish you well.
Thanks for this!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up.
I am happy you would let her know and in so doing, helping other patients down the road.
I will not be quick to put an elderly on morphine but, should that be the best option after a careful consideration, I will not hesitate to. This drug could have contributed to this but, it will not keep you down for 2.5days as you mentioned. Some other possibilities need to have been considered and monitored.
I am happy you feel very comfortable with your current doctor. As a professional, he should not talk of a colleague to you. He should encourage you to talk to the colleague yourself and not make derogatory comments about her. If he thinks she is not able to guarantee quality care to clients, he can as well signal the XXXXXXX medical association for intervention.
I agree with you that doctors should not have poor judgment. This is why I will strongly recommend you let her know what your worries and fears are and this may prove helpful to her.
Thank and I wish you well.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
