Drug interactions
Isocarboxazid + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Isocarboxazid and Tolbutamide: 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
MAOIs can potentiate the hypoglycemic effect of sulfonylureas, increasing the risk of prolonged or severe hypoglycemia. Symptoms may be masked or mistaken for psychiatric effects.
What this interaction means in plain words
Isocarboxazid and Tolbutamide 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.
Isocarboxazid belongs to Central Nervous System; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
MAOIs may enhance insulin secretion and impair counter-regulation, adding to sulfonylurea-induced insulin release; the exact mechanism is not fully established.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose closely when starting, stopping or changing the MAOI. Reduce the sulfonylurea dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
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 Isocarboxazid
- 5-HTP + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Amobarbital + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Apraclonidine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Atomoxetine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
Other interactions of Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Isocarboxazid with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Isocarboxazid and Tolbutamide 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. MAOIs can potentiate the hypoglycemic effect of sulfonylureas, increasing the risk of prolonged or severe hypoglycemia. Symptoms may be masked or mistaken for psychiatric effects.
How serious is the interaction between Isocarboxazid and Tolbutamide?
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 blood glucose closely when starting, stopping or changing the MAOI. Reduce the sulfonylurea dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Isocarboxazid?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Isocarboxazid with, for example, 5-HTP, Amitriptyline, Amobarbital. The full list is on the Isocarboxazid page.
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