Drug interactions
Difenoxin + Mirtazapine
Severity: Moderate
Difenoxin and Mirtazapine: 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
Mirtazapine is strongly sedating and difenoxin, an opioid antidiarrheal metabolite of diphenoxylate, can cause CNS depression. Together they may produce additive drowsiness, impaired psychomotor performance and, at higher doses, respiratory depression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Difenoxin and Mirtazapine 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; Mirtazapine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive central nervous system depression through histamine H1 antagonism by mirtazapine and opioid receptor agonism by difenoxin.
What to do
Counsel patients to avoid driving and other hazardous tasks until the response is known, and use the lowest effective difenoxin dose for the shortest time. Monitor for excessive sedation, especially in older adults.
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 Mirtazapine
- Isocarboxazid + Mirtazapine Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Mirtazapine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Other interactions of Difenoxin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Difenoxin with Mirtazapine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Difenoxin and Mirtazapine 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. Mirtazapine is strongly sedating and difenoxin, an opioid antidiarrheal metabolite of diphenoxylate, can cause CNS depression. Together they may produce additive drowsiness, impaired psychomotor performance and, at higher doses, respiratory depression.
How serious is the interaction between Difenoxin and Mirtazapine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Counsel patients to avoid driving and other hazardous tasks until the response is known, and use the lowest effective difenoxin dose for the shortest time. Monitor for excessive sedation, especially in older adults.
What other medicines interact with Mirtazapine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mirtazapine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Pimozide. The full list is on the Mirtazapine page.
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