Drug interactions
Desipramine + Dobutamine
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Dobutamine: 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
Tricyclic antidepressants can alter the cardiovascular response to sympathomimetic amines. Dobutamine acts mainly directly on beta receptors, so the effect is usually modest, but enhanced pressor responses, tachycardia and arrhythmias have been described with this class combination.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Dobutamine 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.
Desipramine belongs to Central Nervous System; Dobutamine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Tricyclics block norepinephrine reuptake and sensitize adrenergic receptors, which may potentiate catecholamine effects on heart rate and blood pressure.
What to do
Monitor ECG, heart rate and blood pressure during dobutamine infusion in patients taking desipramine and titrate dobutamine to response starting at a low dose.
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 Dobutamine
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 Desipramine with Dobutamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Dobutamine 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. Tricyclic antidepressants can alter the cardiovascular response to sympathomimetic amines. Dobutamine acts mainly directly on beta receptors, so the effect is usually modest, but enhanced pressor responses, tachycardia and arrhythmias have been described with this class combination.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Dobutamine?
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 ECG, heart rate and blood pressure during dobutamine infusion in patients taking desipramine and titrate dobutamine to response starting at a low dose.
What other medicines interact with Dobutamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Dobutamine with, for example, Budesonide-formoterol, Dihydroergotamine intranasal, Dihydroergotamine. The full list is on the Dobutamine page.
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