Drug interactions
Desipramine + Lithium
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Lithium: 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
Together they can increase serotonergic activity and neurotoxicity, with reports of tremor, confusion and rarely serotonin syndrome. Both may also affect cardiac conduction and the QT interval, which adds arrhythmia risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Lithium 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; Lithium belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive serotonergic and pharmacodynamic effects on the CNS and on cardiac conduction.
What to do
Monitor serum lithium levels, renal function and an ECG, and watch for tremor, agitation or neuromuscular excitability. Reduce doses or stop one drug if signs of toxicity appear.
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 Lithium
- Lithium + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Lithium + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Lithium Major
- Acemetacin + Lithium Major
- Amisulpride + Lithium Major
- Amlodipine-benazepril + Lithium Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Lithium?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Lithium 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. Together they can increase serotonergic activity and neurotoxicity, with reports of tremor, confusion and rarely serotonin syndrome. Both may also affect cardiac conduction and the QT interval, which adds arrhythmia risk.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Lithium?
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 serum lithium levels, renal function and an ECG, and watch for tremor, agitation or neuromuscular excitability. Reduce doses or stop one drug if signs of toxicity appear.
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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