Drug interactions
Desipramine + Guanfacine
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Guanfacine: 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 may blunt the blood pressure lowering effect of guanfacine. This can reduce control of hypertension or reduce the benefit in ADHD treatment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Guanfacine 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; Guanfacine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Desipramine blocks neuronal norepinephrine reuptake and may counteract the central alpha-2 agonist effect of guanfacine.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and clinical response, and adjust the guanfacine dose if effect is lost. Consider an alternative antidepressant if control is inadequate.
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 Guanfacine
- Clonidine + Guanfacine Major
- Guanfacine + Lofexidine Major
- Aldesleukin + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amiodarone + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amisulpride + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amitriptyline + Guanfacine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Guanfacine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Guanfacine 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 may blunt the blood pressure lowering effect of guanfacine. This can reduce control of hypertension or reduce the benefit in ADHD treatment.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Guanfacine?
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 clinical response, and adjust the guanfacine dose if effect is lost. Consider an alternative antidepressant if control is inadequate.
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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