Drug interactions
Brimonidine + Tetrabenazine
Severity: Moderate
Brimonidine and Tetrabenazine: 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
Tetrabenazine commonly causes sedation, somnolence and depression, and brimonidine may add drowsiness. The combination can increase CNS depression, although systemic brimonidine exposure from drops is limited.
What this interaction means in plain words
Brimonidine and Tetrabenazine 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.
Brimonidine belongs to Miscellaneous; Tetrabenazine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depressant effects; tetrabenazine depletes monoamines via VMAT2 inhibition while brimonidine is a central alpha-2 agonist.
What to do
Monitor for excessive sedation and mood changes, and counsel about driving and machinery; adjust tetrabenazine dose if sedation is troublesome.
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 Brimonidine
- Brimonidine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Linezolid Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Other interactions of Tetrabenazine
- Dronedarone + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Linezolid + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Brimonidine with Tetrabenazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Brimonidine and Tetrabenazine 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. Tetrabenazine commonly causes sedation, somnolence and depression, and brimonidine may add drowsiness. The combination can increase CNS depression, although systemic brimonidine exposure from drops is limited.
How serious is the interaction between Brimonidine and Tetrabenazine?
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 for excessive sedation and mood changes, and counsel about driving and machinery; adjust tetrabenazine dose if sedation is troublesome.
What other medicines interact with Brimonidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Brimonidine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Linezolid, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Brimonidine page.
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