Drug interactions
Desipramine + Meclizine
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Meclizine: 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
Desipramine and meclizine both have antimuscarinic activity, so together they can cause dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, urinary retention and confusion. Older patients and those with glaucoma or prostatic enlargement are at higher risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Meclizine 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; Meclizine belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive muscarinic receptor blockade, with additive sedation from H1 antagonism.
What to do
Avoid the combination in elderly patients and those with glaucoma or urinary retention. Otherwise use the lowest meclizine dose for the shortest time and monitor for anticholinergic effects.
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 Meclizine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Meclizine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Meclizine 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 and meclizine both have antimuscarinic activity, so together they can cause dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, urinary retention and confusion. Older patients and those with glaucoma or prostatic enlargement are at higher risk.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Meclizine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination in elderly patients and those with glaucoma or urinary retention. Otherwise use the lowest meclizine dose for the shortest time and monitor for anticholinergic effects.
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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