Drug interactions
Imipramine + Rasagiline
Severity: Contraindicated
Imipramine and Rasagiline: 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
Combining a tricyclic antidepressant with an MAO-B inhibitor has been associated with serious reactions including serotonin syndrome, hyperpyrexia and severe CNS toxicity. Labeling advises against concurrent use and separating the drugs by a washout period.
What this interaction means in plain words
Imipramine and Rasagiline 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.
Imipramine belongs to Central Nervous System; Rasagiline belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
MAO inhibition combined with tricyclic reuptake blockade increases synaptic monoamines, causing serotonergic and adrenergic toxicity.
What to do
Do not co-administer; allow at least 14 days after stopping rasagiline before starting imipramine, and an adequate tricyclic washout before rasagiline.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Imipramine and Rasagiline, 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 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Imipramine
- Dronedarone + Imipramine Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Safinamide Contraindicated
- Imipramine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Other interactions of Rasagiline
- Atomoxetine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Bupropion-naltrexone + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Bupropion + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Clomipramine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Desvenlafaxine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Imipramine with Rasagiline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Imipramine and Rasagiline 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. Combining a tricyclic antidepressant with an MAO-B inhibitor has been associated with serious reactions including serotonin syndrome, hyperpyrexia and severe CNS toxicity. Labeling advises against concurrent use and separating the drugs by a washout period.
How serious is the interaction between Imipramine and Rasagiline?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not co-administer; allow at least 14 days after stopping rasagiline before starting imipramine, and an adequate tricyclic washout before rasagiline.
What other medicines interact with Imipramine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Imipramine with, for example, Dronedarone, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Imipramine 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.
