Drug interactions
Diflunisal + Escitalopram
Severity: Moderate
Diflunisal and Escitalopram: 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
SSRIs given with NSAIDs raise the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding above that of either drug alone. Risk is higher in older adults and those with ulcer history.
What this interaction means in plain words
Diflunisal and Escitalopram 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.
Diflunisal belongs to Musculoskeletal; Escitalopram belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
SSRI-induced platelet serotonin depletion impairs aggregation, adding to NSAID platelet inhibition and mucosal injury.
What to do
Avoid if possible, or add a proton pump inhibitor in at-risk patients. Advise patients to report melena or hematemesis.
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 Diflunisal and Escitalopram, 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 Diflunisal
- Diflunisal + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Diflunisal + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Acemetacin + Diflunisal Major
- Acetazolamide + Diflunisal Major
- Alteplase + Diflunisal Major
- Amiloride + Diflunisal Major
Other interactions of Escitalopram
- Cisapride + Escitalopram Contraindicated
- Citalopram + Escitalopram Contraindicated
- Escitalopram + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Escitalopram + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Escitalopram + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Escitalopram + Pimozide Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Diflunisal with Escitalopram?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Diflunisal and Escitalopram 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. SSRIs given with NSAIDs raise the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding above that of either drug alone. Risk is higher in older adults and those with ulcer history.
How serious is the interaction between Diflunisal and Escitalopram?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid if possible, or add a proton pump inhibitor in at-risk patients. Advise patients to report melena or hematemesis.
What other medicines interact with Diflunisal?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Diflunisal with, for example, Ketorolac, Ketorolac intranasal, Acemetacin. The full list is on the Diflunisal 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.
