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Drug interactions

Cinnarizine + Desipramine

Severity: Moderate

Cinnarizine 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

Cinnarizine is a sedating antihistamine and calcium channel blocker with some anticholinergic activity. Combined with desipramine it can increase drowsiness and anticholinergic effects.

What this interaction means in plain words

Cinnarizine 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.

Cinnarizine belongs to Respiratory; Desipramine belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Low

Why it happens

Additive CNS depressant and anticholinergic effects.

What to do

Counsel about sedation and impaired driving, and monitor for anticholinergic effects, especially in older patients; reduce doses if symptomatic.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Cinnarizine with Desipramine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cinnarizine 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. Cinnarizine is a sedating antihistamine and calcium channel blocker with some anticholinergic activity. Combined with desipramine it can increase drowsiness and anticholinergic effects.

How serious is the interaction between Cinnarizine 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: Counsel about sedation and impaired driving, and monitor for anticholinergic effects, especially in older patients; reduce doses if symptomatic.

What other medicines interact with Desipramine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Desipramine with, for example, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Ibutilide. The full list is on the Desipramine page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

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