Drug interactions
Desipramine + Ibutilide
Severity: Contraindicated
Desipramine and Ibutilide: contraindicated 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
Ibutilide strongly prolongs repolarization, and desipramine also has QT-prolonging and proarrhythmic potential. Combined use increases the risk of torsades de pointes.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Ibutilide are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Desipramine belongs to Central Nervous System; Ibutilide belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive prolongation of cardiac repolarization.
What to do
Avoid ibutilide in patients taking desipramine and use another cardioversion approach. If given, use continuous ECG monitoring.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Desipramine
- Desipramine + Disopyramide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Pentamidine Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ibutilide
- Amiodarone + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Chlorpromazine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Dolasetron + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Ibutilide Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Ibutilide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Desipramine and Ibutilide are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Ibutilide strongly prolongs repolarization, and desipramine also has QT-prolonging and proarrhythmic potential. Combined use increases the risk of torsades de pointes.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Ibutilide?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid ibutilide in patients taking desipramine and use another cardioversion approach. If given, use continuous ECG monitoring.
What other medicines interact with Desipramine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Desipramine with, for example, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Desipramine page.
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