Drug interactions
Desipramine + Tolcapone
Severity: Moderate
Desipramine and Tolcapone: 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
Tolcapone inhibits COMT and can increase catecholamine exposure, so combining it with a tricyclic antidepressant that blocks noradrenaline reuptake may increase adrenergic effects such as tachycardia, blood pressure changes and arrhythmia. Labeling advises caution.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desipramine and Tolcapone 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; Tolcapone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive enhancement of noradrenergic activity through COMT inhibition plus noradrenaline reuptake inhibition.
What to do
Monitor heart rate, blood pressure and rhythm when combining these drugs. Reduce the desipramine dose if adrenergic adverse effects 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 Tolcapone
- Isocarboxazid + Tolcapone Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Tolcapone Contraindicated
- Tolcapone + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Metoclopramide + Tolcapone Major
- Apomorphine + Tolcapone Moderate
- Asenapine + Tolcapone Moderate
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 Tolcapone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desipramine and Tolcapone 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. Tolcapone inhibits COMT and can increase catecholamine exposure, so combining it with a tricyclic antidepressant that blocks noradrenaline reuptake may increase adrenergic effects such as tachycardia, blood pressure changes and arrhythmia. Labeling advises caution.
How serious is the interaction between Desipramine and Tolcapone?
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 heart rate, blood pressure and rhythm when combining these drugs. Reduce the desipramine dose if adrenergic adverse effects appear.
What other medicines interact with Tolcapone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tolcapone with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine. The full list is on the Tolcapone page.
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