Drug interactions
Ketamine + Nortriptyline
Severity: Moderate
Ketamine and Nortriptyline: 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
Ketamine causes sedation and sympathetic stimulation, while nortriptyline contributes sedation and can increase pressor sensitivity. Combined use may cause deeper sedation, hypertension or tachycardia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketamine and Nortriptyline 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.
Ketamine belongs to Central Nervous System; Nortriptyline belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression, with tricyclic potentiation of sympathomimetic effects.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and sedation level during and after ketamine administration. Use the lowest effective ketamine dose.
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 Nortriptyline
- Disopyramide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketamine with Nortriptyline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketamine and Nortriptyline 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. Ketamine causes sedation and sympathetic stimulation, while nortriptyline contributes sedation and can increase pressor sensitivity. Combined use may cause deeper sedation, hypertension or tachycardia.
How serious is the interaction between Ketamine and Nortriptyline?
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 pressure, heart rate and sedation level during and after ketamine administration. Use the lowest effective ketamine dose.
What other medicines interact with Nortriptyline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nortriptyline with, for example, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Nortriptyline page.
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