Skip to content

Drug interactions

Epinephrine + Trifluoperazine

Severity: Moderate

Epinephrine and Trifluoperazine: 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

Trifluoperazine has alpha-blocking activity that can reverse epinephrine's pressor effect and produce hypotension. It can also prolong the QT interval, adding to arrhythmic risk.

What this interaction means in plain words

Epinephrine and Trifluoperazine 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.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Alpha-adrenergic blockade unmasks epinephrine's beta-mediated vasodilation, with additive QT effects.

What to do

If hypotension occurs in a patient on phenothiazines, use norepinephrine or phenylephrine rather than epinephrine, except in anaphylaxis. Monitor blood pressure and ECG.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Epinephrine and Trifluoperazine, 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.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Epinephrine with Trifluoperazine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Epinephrine and Trifluoperazine 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. Trifluoperazine has alpha-blocking activity that can reverse epinephrine's pressor effect and produce hypotension. It can also prolong the QT interval, adding to arrhythmic risk.

How serious is the interaction between Epinephrine and Trifluoperazine?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: If hypotension occurs in a patient on phenothiazines, use norepinephrine or phenylephrine rather than epinephrine, except in anaphylaxis. Monitor blood pressure and ECG.

What other medicines interact with Epinephrine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Epinephrine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine. The full list is on the Epinephrine 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.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in