Drug interactions
Desipramine + Sertraline
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Sertraline: 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
Sertraline can modestly inhibit CYP2D6 and raise desipramine levels, and both drugs affect serotonergic transmission and cardiac conduction. The result may be tricyclic toxicity or serotonin syndrome.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Sertraline 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; Sertraline belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Dose-dependent CYP2D6 inhibition by sertraline with additive serotonergic and QT effects.
What to do
Monitor desipramine levels and ECG, adjust the desipramine dose as needed and watch for serotonin toxicity. Use lower sertraline doses where feasible.
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 Sertraline
- Isocarboxazid + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Selegiline transdermal + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Selegiline + Sertraline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desipramine with Sertraline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Sertraline 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. Sertraline can modestly inhibit CYP2D6 and raise desipramine levels, and both drugs affect serotonergic transmission and cardiac conduction. The result may be tricyclic toxicity or serotonin syndrome.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Sertraline?
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 desipramine levels and ECG, adjust the desipramine dose as needed and watch for serotonin toxicity. Use lower sertraline doses where feasible.
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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