Drug interactions
Desipramine + Opium tincture
Severity: Major
Desipramine and Opium tincture: major 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 depress the CNS, so together they increase sedation and the risk of respiratory depression. Opium tincture is potent and dosed in small volumes, so dosing errors are also a concern.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Opium tincture can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression, with anticholinergic constipating effects adding to opioid effects.
What to do
Use the lowest effective opioid dose and monitor for sedation and respiratory depression. Counsel patients to avoid alcohol and other depressants.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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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
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Opium tincture?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Desipramine and Opium tincture can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Both drugs depress the CNS, so together they increase sedation and the risk of respiratory depression. Opium tincture is potent and dosed in small volumes, so dosing errors are also a concern.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Opium tincture?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective opioid dose and monitor for sedation and respiratory depression. Counsel patients to avoid alcohol and other depressants.
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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