Drug interactions
Butorphanol + Desipramine
Severity: Moderate
Butorphanol 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
Both agents can cause sedation, and the combination may intensify drowsiness and psychomotor impairment. Desipramine is less sedating than other tricyclics, but additive effects and orthostatic hypotension are still possible.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butorphanol 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.
Butorphanol belongs to Musculoskeletal; Desipramine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from opioid activity and tricyclic antidepressant effects.
What to do
Monitor for excessive sedation, dizziness and respiratory depression, and begin with lower butorphanol doses. Advise patients to avoid driving until the response is known.
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 Butorphanol
- Butorphanol + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Butorphanol + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Butorphanol Major
- Alprazolam + Butorphanol Major
- Alvimopan + Butorphanol Major
- Amobarbital + Butorphanol Major
Other interactions of Desipramine
- Desipramine + Disopyramide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Pentamidine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butorphanol with Desipramine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Butorphanol 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. Both agents can cause sedation, and the combination may intensify drowsiness and psychomotor impairment. Desipramine is less sedating than other tricyclics, but additive effects and orthostatic hypotension are still possible.
How serious is the interaction between Butorphanol 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: Monitor for excessive sedation, dizziness and respiratory depression, and begin with lower butorphanol doses. Advise patients to avoid driving until the response is known.
What other medicines interact with Butorphanol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Butorphanol with, for example, Olanzapine / samidorphan, Sodium oxybate, Alfentanil. The full list is on the Butorphanol page.
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