Drug interactions
Escitalopram + Vardenafil
Severity: Moderate
Escitalopram and Vardenafil: 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
Escitalopram prolongs the QT interval in a dose-dependent manner, and vardenafil has a small QT effect at higher doses. Combined use may add to arrhythmia risk, mainly in patients with other risk factors.
What this interaction means in plain words
Escitalopram and Vardenafil 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.
Escitalopram belongs to Central Nervous System; Vardenafil belongs to Genitourinary.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic prolongation of cardiac repolarization.
What to do
Avoid escitalopram doses above the recommended maximum and correct potassium and magnesium abnormalities. Obtain an ECG if the patient has congenital long QT, heart disease or takes other QT-prolonging drugs.
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 Vardenafil
- Amyl nitrite + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Glyceryl trinitrate pr + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Isosorbide dinitrate + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Isosorbide mononitrate + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Nicorandil + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin po + Vardenafil Contraindicated
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 Escitalopram with Vardenafil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Escitalopram and Vardenafil 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. Escitalopram prolongs the QT interval in a dose-dependent manner, and vardenafil has a small QT effect at higher doses. Combined use may add to arrhythmia risk, mainly in patients with other risk factors.
How serious is the interaction between Escitalopram and Vardenafil?
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 escitalopram doses above the recommended maximum and correct potassium and magnesium abnormalities. Obtain an ECG if the patient has congenital long QT, heart disease or takes other QT-prolonging drugs.
What other medicines interact with Vardenafil?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Vardenafil with, for example, Amyl nitrite, Glyceryl trinitrate pr, Isosorbide dinitrate. The full list is on the Vardenafil page.
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