Drug & supplement interaction

N,n-dmpea + Meperidine

Meperidine brand names: Pethadol, Cytospaz.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

N,n-dmpea has a moderate interaction with Meperidine. In vitro research shows that N,N-DMPEA strongly inhibits cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6).

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

N,n-dmpea and Meperidine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Meperidine

Meperidine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES — the group N,n-dmpea interacts with.

In vitro research shows that N,N-DMPEA strongly inhibits cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Theoretically, concomitant use with drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 might increase the risk for adverse effects from these drugs.
Some drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 include amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), trazodone (Desyrel), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing about combining a stimulant supplement like N,N-DMPEA with meperidine. Lab studies suggest N,N-DMPEA can block an enzyme in your liver called CYP2D6, and meperidine is partly handled by that same enzyme. If that enzyme gets slowed down, your body may clear meperidine more sluggishly, letting more of it (and its byproducts) hang around. That could mean stronger opioid effects like heavy drowsiness, slowed breathing, confusion, or nausea.

I want to be honest though: this is based only on test-tube research, not real people, so we don't truly know how it plays out. Meperidine is already a tricky opioid, so I'd play it safe and run this combination by your doctor or pharmacist before mixing them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Liu Y, Santillo MF. Cytochrome P450 2D6 and 3A4 enzyme inhibition by amine stimulants in dietary supplements. Drug Test Anal. 2016;8(3-4):307-10. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

N,n-dmpea Also Interacts With Other Medications

N,n-dmpea has 192 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Meperidine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 192 No known interaction 2,638 (incl. Meperidine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against N,n-dmpea

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against N,n-dmpea. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Meperidine

This page covers N,n-dmpea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Meperidine page lists 155 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 8 major · 124 moderate · 23 minor.

Open the Meperidine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where N,n-dmpea and Meperidine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement N,n-dmpea
Steady interest

#1,403 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Meperidine
Steady interest

#2,605 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About N,n-dmpea

What is N,n-dmpea?

  • Mood or energy support
  • Pre-workout or stimulant effect
  • Cognitive or focus support

N,N-DMPEA (N,N-dimethylphenethylamine) is a synthetic relative of phenethylamine sometimes marketed in stimulant or pre-workout supplements. There is very little reliable human research on its effects or safety, and it is not a well-established dietary ingredient, so it should be approached with real caution.

Read the full N,n-dmpea monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Meperidine

What Is Meperidine Used For?

Brand names: Pethadol, Cytospaz

Meperidine is prescribed for severe pain when other treatments haven't worked or aren't tolerated. It's also used before surgery to help patients relax and to support anesthesia, and it can be used during labor and delivery for pain relief.

Because it carries real risks — including addiction and serious breathing problems — meperidine is reserved for situations where milder options simply aren't enough.

See full Meperidine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & N,n-dmpea

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against N,n-dmpea — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
192Moderate
0Minor
2,637No known interaction
192 Moderate 2,637 No interaction
Moderate

192 interactions

Showing 60 of 192 moderate interactions — see all 192 on the N,n-dmpea page.

No interaction 2,637 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked N,n-dmpea against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,637 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full N,n-dmpea list.

See the full N,n-dmpea interactions page
See every supplement checked against Meperidine, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
N,n-dmpea monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Meperidine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Meperidine, ranked by severity Meperidine drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking N,n-dmpea and Meperidine Together: Common Questions

Can you take N,n-dmpea with Meperidine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the N,n-dmpea and Meperidine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Meperidine and N,n-dmpea?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.