Drug interactions
Carbamazepine + Clomipramine
Severity: Moderate
Carbamazepine and Clomipramine: 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
Carbamazepine induces hepatic enzymes and can lower clomipramine and its active metabolite concentrations, reducing antidepressant or antiobsessional effect. Carbamazepine is also structurally similar to tricyclics, so additive toxicity may occur.
What this interaction means in plain words
Carbamazepine and Clomipramine 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.
Carbamazepine belongs to Central Nervous System; Clomipramine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Induction of CYP3A4, CYP1A2 and other enzymes by carbamazepine increases clomipramine clearance.
What to do
Monitor clinical response and consider checking tricyclic plasma levels, increasing the clomipramine dose if needed. Reassess if carbamazepine is stopped.
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 Clomipramine
- Arsenic trioxide + Clomipramine Contraindicated
- Clomipramine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Clomipramine + Droperidol Contraindicated
- Clomipramine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Clomipramine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Clomipramine + Pentamidine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Carbamazepine
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Delamanid Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Dienogest / estradiol valerate Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Doravirine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Elbasvir / grazoprevir Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Carbamazepine with Clomipramine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Carbamazepine and Clomipramine 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. Carbamazepine induces hepatic enzymes and can lower clomipramine and its active metabolite concentrations, reducing antidepressant or antiobsessional effect. Carbamazepine is also structurally similar to tricyclics, so additive toxicity may occur.
How serious is the interaction between Carbamazepine and Clomipramine?
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 clinical response and consider checking tricyclic plasma levels, increasing the clomipramine dose if needed. Reassess if carbamazepine is stopped.
What other medicines interact with Clomipramine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clomipramine with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Dofetilide, Droperidol. The full list is on the Clomipramine page.
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