Drug interactions
Amitriptyline + Moxonidine
Severity: Moderate
Amitriptyline and Moxonidine: 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
Moxonidine, a centrally acting antihypertensive, can cause drowsiness and dry mouth, and tricyclics may add to these effects. Tricyclics can also blunt the blood pressure lowering of centrally acting alpha-2 agonists, and the label advises against using moxonidine with them.
What this interaction means in plain words
Amitriptyline and Moxonidine 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.
Why it happens
Additive sedation, plus pharmacodynamic antagonism of central alpha-2 mediated hypotension by the tricyclic's noradrenergic effects.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and sedation after starting or changing doses. Consider an antihypertensive from another class if blood pressure control is lost.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Amitriptyline and Moxonidine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
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 Moxonidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Amitriptyline and Moxonidine 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. Moxonidine, a centrally acting antihypertensive, can cause drowsiness and dry mouth, and tricyclics may add to these effects. Tricyclics can also blunt the blood pressure lowering of centrally acting alpha-2 agonists, and the label advises against using moxonidine with them.
How serious is the interaction between Amitriptyline and Moxonidine?
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 blood pressure and sedation after starting or changing doses. Consider an antihypertensive from another class if blood pressure control is lost.
What other medicines interact with Amitriptyline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Amitriptyline with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Amitriptyline page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
