Drug interactions
Maprotiline + Rivastigmine
Severity: Moderate
Maprotiline and Rivastigmine: 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
Maprotiline has anticholinergic properties that can oppose the cholinesterase inhibition of rivastigmine, possibly reducing its cognitive benefit. This is a particular concern in dementia patients, who are also sensitive to anticholinergic cognitive effects.
What this interaction means in plain words
Maprotiline and Rivastigmine 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; Rivastigmine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism between anticholinergic activity and cholinesterase inhibition.
What to do
Avoid maprotiline in patients taking rivastigmine where possible and choose an antidepressant with low anticholinergic activity. If used, monitor cognition and function.
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 Rivastigmine, 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 Maprotiline
- Arsenic trioxide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Maprotiline Contraindicated
- Maprotiline + Methylene blue Contraindicated
Other interactions of Rivastigmine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Maprotiline with Rivastigmine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Maprotiline and Rivastigmine 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 has anticholinergic properties that can oppose the cholinesterase inhibition of rivastigmine, possibly reducing its cognitive benefit. This is a particular concern in dementia patients, who are also sensitive to anticholinergic cognitive effects.
How serious is the interaction between Maprotiline and Rivastigmine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid maprotiline in patients taking rivastigmine where possible and choose an antidepressant with low anticholinergic activity. If used, monitor cognition and function.
What other medicines interact with Maprotiline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Maprotiline with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Disopyramide, Dofetilide. The full list is on the Maprotiline 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.
