Drug interactions
Difenoxin + Nortriptyline
Severity: Moderate
Difenoxin and Nortriptyline: 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
Difenoxin is an opioid antidiarrheal related to diphenoxylate that can cause sedation. Together with nortriptyline it can increase drowsiness and additive anticholinergic effects may promote constipation or ileus.
What this interaction means in plain words
Difenoxin and Nortriptyline 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; Nortriptyline belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and antimuscarinic effects.
What to do
Monitor sedation and bowel function, and avoid exceeding recommended difenoxin doses.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Difenoxin and Nortriptyline, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Nortriptyline
- Disopyramide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
Other interactions of Difenoxin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Difenoxin with Nortriptyline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Difenoxin and Nortriptyline 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 is an opioid antidiarrheal related to diphenoxylate that can cause sedation. Together with nortriptyline it can increase drowsiness and additive anticholinergic effects may promote constipation or ileus.
How serious is the interaction between Difenoxin and Nortriptyline?
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 sedation and bowel function, and avoid exceeding recommended difenoxin doses.
What other medicines interact with Nortriptyline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nortriptyline with, for example, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Nortriptyline page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
