Drug interactions
Buprenorphine long-acting + Nortriptyline
Severity: Moderate
Buprenorphine long-acting and Nortriptyline: 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
Both agents may prolong the QTc interval and cause sedation. Long-acting injectable buprenorphine cannot be quickly withdrawn, so additive effects may persist for weeks.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buprenorphine long-acting and Nortriptyline 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 QT prolongation and CNS depression.
What to do
Monitor for sedation and respiratory depression, and obtain an ECG in patients with cardiac risk factors. Consider a less sedating, lower-QT-risk antidepressant if problems arise.
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 Nortriptyline
- Disopyramide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buprenorphine long-acting with Nortriptyline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buprenorphine long-acting and Nortriptyline 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. Both agents may prolong the QTc interval and cause sedation. Long-acting injectable buprenorphine cannot be quickly withdrawn, so additive effects may persist for weeks.
How serious is the interaction between Buprenorphine long-acting and Nortriptyline?
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 sedation and respiratory depression, and obtain an ECG in patients with cardiac risk factors. Consider a less sedating, lower-QT-risk antidepressant if problems arise.
What other medicines interact with Nortriptyline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nortriptyline with, for example, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Nortriptyline page.
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