Drug interactions
Desipramine + Doxylamine
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Doxylamine: 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
Doxylamine is a strongly sedating, anticholinergic antihistamine. With desipramine, drowsiness and anticholinergic effects such as confusion, dry mouth and urinary retention can be significantly increased.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Doxylamine 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; Doxylamine belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and anticholinergic effects.
What to do
Avoid in older adults and those at risk of urinary retention; otherwise counsel on sedation and monitor for anticholinergic effects.
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 Desipramine
- Desipramine + Disopyramide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Pentamidine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Doxylamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Doxylamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Doxylamine 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. Doxylamine is a strongly sedating, anticholinergic antihistamine. With desipramine, drowsiness and anticholinergic effects such as confusion, dry mouth and urinary retention can be significantly increased.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Doxylamine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid in older adults and those at risk of urinary retention; otherwise counsel on sedation and monitor for anticholinergic effects.
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.
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