Drug interactions
Amitriptyline + Amobarbital
Severity: Moderate
Amitriptyline and Amobarbital: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
The combination increases sedation and respiratory depression, which matters especially in overdose. Amobarbital can also reduce amitriptyline levels through enzyme induction and weaken the antidepressant effect.
What this interaction means in plain words
Amitriptyline and Amobarbital can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Amitriptyline belongs to Central Nervous System; Amobarbital belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression plus barbiturate induction of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 metabolism of amitriptyline.
What to do
Monitor sedation and depressive symptom control, and adjust the amitriptyline dose to response. Limit quantities dispensed in patients at risk of overdose.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Amobarbital
- Amobarbital + Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Doravirine Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Elbasvir / grazoprevir Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Isavuconazonium Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Lonafarnib Contraindicated
Other interactions of Amitriptyline
- Amitriptyline + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Safinamide Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Amitriptyline with Amobarbital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Amitriptyline and Amobarbital can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. The combination increases sedation and respiratory depression, which matters especially in overdose. Amobarbital can also reduce amitriptyline levels through enzyme induction and weaken the antidepressant effect.
How serious is the interaction between Amitriptyline and Amobarbital?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor sedation and depressive symptom control, and adjust the amitriptyline dose to response. Limit quantities dispensed in patients at risk of overdose.
What other medicines interact with Amobarbital?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Amobarbital with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Doravirine, Elbasvir / grazoprevir. The full list is on the Amobarbital page.
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