Drug interactions
Asenapine + Desipramine
Severity: Moderate
Asenapine and Desipramine: 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
Asenapine is a weak CYP2D6 inhibitor and may raise desipramine concentrations, adding to the risk of tricyclic toxicity. Both drugs can prolong the QT interval and cause sedation, so cardiac and CNS effects may be additive.
What this interaction means in plain words
Asenapine and Desipramine 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.
Asenapine belongs to Central Nervous System; Desipramine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Weak CYP2D6 inhibition by asenapine plus additive QT-prolonging and sedative pharmacodynamic effects.
What to do
Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc and electrolytes; consider checking desipramine levels or reducing its dose if anticholinergic, sedative or cardiac effects appear.
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 Desipramine
- Desipramine + Disopyramide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Pentamidine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Asenapine
- Asenapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Asenapine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Asenapine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Asenapine Major
- Alfentanil + Asenapine Major
- Alfuzosin + Asenapine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Asenapine with Desipramine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Asenapine and Desipramine 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. Asenapine is a weak CYP2D6 inhibitor and may raise desipramine concentrations, adding to the risk of tricyclic toxicity. Both drugs can prolong the QT interval and cause sedation, so cardiac and CNS effects may be additive.
How serious is the interaction between Asenapine and Desipramine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc and electrolytes; consider checking desipramine levels or reducing its dose if anticholinergic, sedative or cardiac effects appear.
What other medicines interact with Desipramine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Desipramine with, for example, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Ibutilide. The full list is on the Desipramine page.
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