Drug interactions
Ephedrine + Selegiline
Severity: Contraindicated
Ephedrine and Selegiline: contraindicated 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
Ephedrine in a patient on an MAO inhibitor may produce a markedly exaggerated pressor response and hypertensive crisis. Indirect sympathomimetics are contraindicated with MAOIs.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ephedrine and Selegiline are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Ephedrine belongs to Cardiovascular; Selegiline belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Ephedrine releases norepinephrine from nerve terminals, and MAO inhibition prevents its breakdown, so catecholamines accumulate.
What to do
Avoid ephedrine during and for 14 days after selegiline. Use a non-sympathomimetic alternative, and treat any hypertensive emergency promptly.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Selegiline
- Amitriptyline + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Atomoxetine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Benzphetamine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Buprenorphine long-acting + Selegiline Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ephedrine
- Ephedrine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Caffeine + Ephedrine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ephedrine with Selegiline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Ephedrine and Selegiline are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Ephedrine in a patient on an MAO inhibitor may produce a markedly exaggerated pressor response and hypertensive crisis. Indirect sympathomimetics are contraindicated with MAOIs.
How serious is the interaction between Ephedrine and Selegiline?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid ephedrine during and for 14 days after selegiline. Use a non-sympathomimetic alternative, and treat any hypertensive emergency promptly.
What other medicines interact with Selegiline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Selegiline with, for example, Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Atomoxetine. The full list is on the Selegiline page.
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