Drug interactions
Maprotiline + Morphine
Severity: Moderate
Maprotiline and Morphine: 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
Combining an opioid with a sedating tetracyclic antidepressant increases CNS depression and may impair alertness and breathing. Maprotiline also lowers the seizure threshold, and serotonergic toxicity is a theoretical concern, though morphine has weak serotonergic activity.
What this interaction means in plain words
Maprotiline and Morphine 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.
Maprotiline belongs to Central Nervous System; Morphine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression; maprotiline's noradrenergic reuptake inhibition and antihistaminic effects add to opioid sedation.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and monitor sedation and respiratory status, especially when starting or increasing doses. Watch for agitation, tremor or hyperthermia suggesting serotonergic toxicity.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Maprotiline and Morphine, 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 Morphine
- Alvimopan + Morphine Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Morphine Contraindicated
- Morphine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Morphine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Morphine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Morphine Major
Other interactions of Maprotiline
- Arsenic trioxide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Maprotiline + Methylene blue Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Maprotiline with Morphine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Maprotiline and Morphine 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. Combining an opioid with a sedating tetracyclic antidepressant increases CNS depression and may impair alertness and breathing. Maprotiline also lowers the seizure threshold, and serotonergic toxicity is a theoretical concern, though morphine has weak serotonergic activity.
How serious is the interaction between Maprotiline and Morphine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective doses and monitor sedation and respiratory status, especially when starting or increasing doses. Watch for agitation, tremor or hyperthermia suggesting serotonergic toxicity.
What other medicines interact with Morphine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Morphine with, for example, Alvimopan, Isocarboxazid, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Morphine 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.
