Drug interactions
Difenoxin + Imipramine
Severity: Moderate
Difenoxin and Imipramine: 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
Imipramine and difenoxin, an opioid antidiarrheal related to diphenoxylate, both depress the central nervous system. Taken together they can cause greater drowsiness, impaired psychomotor performance and, at higher doses, respiratory depression. Both drugs also have anticholinergic effects that can add to constipation and the risk of ileus.
What this interaction means in plain words
Difenoxin and Imipramine 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.
Difenoxin belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Imipramine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depressant and anticholinergic effects.
What to do
Use the lowest effective dose of difenoxin and monitor for excessive sedation and reduced bowel motility. Counsel patients not to drive or operate machinery until the response is known.
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 Imipramine
- Dronedarone + Imipramine Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Safinamide Contraindicated
Other interactions of Difenoxin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Difenoxin with Imipramine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Difenoxin and Imipramine 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. Imipramine and difenoxin, an opioid antidiarrheal related to diphenoxylate, both depress the central nervous system. Taken together they can cause greater drowsiness, impaired psychomotor performance and, at higher doses, respiratory depression. Both drugs also have anticholinergic effects that can add to constipation and the risk of ileus.
How serious is the interaction between Difenoxin and Imipramine?
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 dose of difenoxin and monitor for excessive sedation and reduced bowel motility. Counsel patients not to drive or operate machinery until the response is known.
What other medicines interact with Imipramine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Imipramine with, for example, Dronedarone, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Imipramine page.
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