Drug interactions
Desipramine + Loxapine
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Loxapine: 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
Both drugs are sedating and have anticholinergic effects, so together they can cause marked drowsiness, confusion, constipation and urinary retention. Loxapine may also raise tricyclic levels through CYP2D6 competition, and both can lower the seizure threshold.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Loxapine 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; Loxapine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression, anticholinergic effects and seizure threshold lowering, with possible competition for CYP2D6.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and watch for oversedation, anticholinergic effects and cardiac conduction changes. Consider an ECG and desipramine levels if toxicity is suspected.
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 Loxapine
- Alfentanil + Loxapine Major
- Alprazolam + Loxapine Major
- Amisulpride + Loxapine Major
- Amoxapine + Loxapine Major
- Apomorphine + Loxapine Major
- Belladonna and opium + Loxapine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Loxapine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Loxapine 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. Both drugs are sedating and have anticholinergic effects, so together they can cause marked drowsiness, confusion, constipation and urinary retention. Loxapine may also raise tricyclic levels through CYP2D6 competition, and both can lower the seizure threshold.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Loxapine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective doses and watch for oversedation, anticholinergic effects and cardiac conduction changes. Consider an ECG and desipramine levels if toxicity is suspected.
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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