escitalopram + oxycodone

Escitalopram + oxycodone is a drug combination consisting of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic. This specific combination is the subject of clinical investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate the potential for adverse respiratory interactions, specifically whether SSRIs exacerbate opioid-induced ventilatory depression (OIVD) and hypercapnia. Escitalopram acts by highly selective inhibition of the serotonin transporter (SERT), thereby increasing synaptic serotonin levels. Oxycodone is a potent analgesic that primarily functions as an agonist at the mu-opioid receptor. The FDA-sponsored study (NCT04610437) utilizes a rebreathing methodology in healthy participants to assess the effects of both acute and chronic dosing of escitalopram on the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide when co-administered with oxycodone.

Other names

escitalopram and oxycodone combinationSSRI and opioid combination