Drug interactions
Butabarbital + Nortriptyline
Severity: Moderate
Butabarbital 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
Barbiturates add to the sedative effect of tricyclic antidepressants. Butabarbital also induces liver enzymes, which can lower nortriptyline concentrations and reduce its antidepressant effect.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butabarbital 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 CNS depression, and barbiturate induction of CYP enzymes that metabolize nortriptyline.
What to do
Monitor sedation and antidepressant response, and check nortriptyline concentrations if response is lost. Adjust the nortriptyline dose as needed.
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 Butabarbital and Nortriptyline, 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 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 Butabarbital with Nortriptyline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Butabarbital 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. Barbiturates add to the sedative effect of tricyclic antidepressants. Butabarbital also induces liver enzymes, which can lower nortriptyline concentrations and reduce its antidepressant effect.
How serious is the interaction between Butabarbital 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 sedation and antidepressant response, and check nortriptyline concentrations if response is lost. Adjust the nortriptyline dose as needed.
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.
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.
