Drug interactions
Esketamine + Tetrabenazine
Severity: Moderate
Esketamine and Tetrabenazine: 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
Both agents can cause sedation and somnolence, and tetrabenazine can also cause depression and parkinsonism. Esketamine may add to sedation and dizziness, and both may affect blood pressure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Esketamine and Tetrabenazine 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.
Esketamine belongs to Central Nervous System; Tetrabenazine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression; tetrabenazine depletes monoamines via VMAT2 inhibition while esketamine antagonizes NMDA receptors.
What to do
Monitor for excessive sedation and blood pressure changes after esketamine sessions. Reduce the tetrabenazine dose if sedation becomes problematic.
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 Esketamine
Other interactions of Tetrabenazine
- Dronedarone + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Linezolid + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Tetrabenazine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Esketamine with Tetrabenazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Esketamine and Tetrabenazine 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. Both agents can cause sedation and somnolence, and tetrabenazine can also cause depression and parkinsonism. Esketamine may add to sedation and dizziness, and both may affect blood pressure.
How serious is the interaction between Esketamine and Tetrabenazine?
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 for excessive sedation and blood pressure changes after esketamine sessions. Reduce the tetrabenazine dose if sedation becomes problematic.
What other medicines interact with Esketamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Esketamine with, for example, Alfentanil, Amobarbital, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Esketamine page.
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