Drug interactions
Codeine + Maprotiline
Severity: Moderate
Codeine and Maprotiline: 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
Maprotiline is a sedating tetracyclic antidepressant that adds to the CNS and respiratory depression of codeine. It may also be a modest CYP2D6 inhibitor, which could reduce codeine activation, and it carries seizure risk that opioids may not lessen.
What this interaction means in plain words
Codeine and Maprotiline 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.
Codeine belongs to Musculoskeletal; Maprotiline belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression, with possible CYP2D6 inhibition by maprotiline reducing morphine formation.
What to do
Monitor for sedation, respiratory depression and reduced analgesic effect, and use the lowest effective doses.
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 Codeine and Maprotiline, 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 Codeine
- Alvimopan + Codeine Contraindicated
- Codeine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Codeine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Codeine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Codeine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Codeine Major
Other interactions of Maprotiline
- Arsenic trioxide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Maprotiline + Methylene blue Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Codeine with Maprotiline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Codeine and Maprotiline 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. Maprotiline is a sedating tetracyclic antidepressant that adds to the CNS and respiratory depression of codeine. It may also be a modest CYP2D6 inhibitor, which could reduce codeine activation, and it carries seizure risk that opioids may not lessen.
How serious is the interaction between Codeine and Maprotiline?
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, respiratory depression and reduced analgesic effect, and use the lowest effective doses.
What other medicines interact with Codeine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Codeine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Codeine 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.
