Drug interactions
Desipramine + Ephedrine
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Ephedrine: 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
Tricyclics may potentiate the pressor response to direct-acting sympathomimetics and blunt the effect of indirect-acting ones such as ephedrine. The result can be unpredictable blood pressure changes, tachycardia or arrhythmia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Ephedrine 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; Ephedrine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Tricyclics block norepinephrine reuptake and uptake of indirect sympathomimetics into adrenergic neurons.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and heart rate, and titrate ephedrine cautiously from a low dose. Use a direct-acting pressor with careful dosing if hypotension needs treatment.
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 Ephedrine
- Ephedrine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Ephedrine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Ephedrine 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. Tricyclics may potentiate the pressor response to direct-acting sympathomimetics and blunt the effect of indirect-acting ones such as ephedrine. The result can be unpredictable blood pressure changes, tachycardia or arrhythmia.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Ephedrine?
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 blood pressure and heart rate, and titrate ephedrine cautiously from a low dose. Use a direct-acting pressor with careful dosing if hypotension needs treatment.
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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