Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir and Zaleplon interaction
Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir and Zaleplon: both prescribing labels flag this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.
Do not combine without a prescriber's guidance. The label language below is the strongest FDA uses.
What the FDA labels say
From the Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid) label · effective 2026-02-19
…(selective blocker of Na v 1.8 sodium channels): suzetrigine • Opioid antagonists: naloxegol • PDE5 inhibitor: sildenafil (Revatio ® ) when used for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) • Sedative/hypnotics: triazolam, oral midazolam • Serotonin receptor 1A agonist/serotonin receptor 2A antagonist: flibanserin • Vasopressin receptor antagonists: tolvaptan ➢ Drugs that…
Sedative/hypnotics triazolam, oral midazolam ↑ triazolam ↑ midazolam Co-administration contraindicated due to potential for extreme sedation and respiratory depression [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Serotonin receptor 1A agonist/ serotonin receptor 2A antagonist flibanserin ↑ flibanserin Co-administration contraindicated due to potential for hypotension, syncope, and CNS depression [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Sedative/hypnotics buspirone, clorazepate, diazepam, estazolam, flurazepam, zolpidem ↑ sedative/hypnotic A dose decrease may be needed for these drugs when co-administered with PAXLOVID and monitoring for adverse events. midazolam (administered parenterally) ↑ midazolam Co-administration of midazolam (parenteral) should be done in a setting which ensures close…
From the Zaleplon label · effective 2025-10-08
Drugs That Inhibit CYP3A4 CYP3A4 is a minor metabolic pathway for the elimination of zaleplon because the sum of desethylzaleplon (formed via CYP3A4 in vitro) and its metabolites, 5-oxo-desethylzaleplon and 5-oxo-desethylzaleplon glucuronide, account for only 9% of the urinary recovery of a zaleplon dose.
Coadministration of single, oral doses of zaleplon with erythromycin (10 mg and 800 mg respectively), a strong, selective CYP3A4 inhibitor, produced a 34% increase in zaleplon's maximal plasma concentrations and a 20% increase in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve.
Other strong selective CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole can also be expected to increase the exposure of zaleplon.
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Open in the checkerNot medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.