How HBOT Can Affect Medications
HBOT delivers pure oxygen at a higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure. This process floods the body’s tissues with oxygen, which helps with healing but can also affect:
- How medications are absorbed
- How drugs are distributed in the body
- How quickly are the medications broken down and removed
Some medications may not react well in this oxygen-rich environment. Certain drugs can increase the risk of oxygen toxicity, while others can become harmful when exposed to high levels of oxygen.
For this reason, it is very important to share your full medication list before beginning any HBOT treatments.
Medications Your HBOT Provider Needs to Know About
Your provider will need to carefully review the following types of medications:
- Thyroid medications
- Steroids (such as glucocorticoids used to treat inflammation)
- Stimulants (used for conditions like ADHD or sleep apnea)
- Diamox (Acetazolamide)
- Anti-seizure medications
- Migraine medications (such as Fiorinal or Fioricet)
- Tranquilizers and sedatives (such as Valium)
- Opioid pain relievers (including codeine, oxycodone, Tramadol, and morphine)
- NSAIDs (such as Advil and Naprosyn)
- Insulin or other medications for diabetes
- Medications for heart conditions and blood pressure
- Blood thinners
- Antibiotics
Medications That Should Not Be Taken During HBOT
There are a few medications that are considered unsafe to use while receiving HBOT. This is especially true for certain chemotherapy drugs, including:
- Doxorubicin
- Bleomycin
- Disulfiram (Antabuse)
- Cisplatin
- Mafenide
Patients taking these medications should not receive HBOT at the same time. However, this does not necessarily mean HBOT is not an option for the future. In many cases, these medications can be stopped or completed before starting HBOT. Generally, HBOT should be avoided during active chemotherapy.
Written by Elias Tzanides, MD, FACP
