Drug interactions
Memantine-donepezil + Paroxetine
Severity: Moderate
Memantine-donepezil and Paroxetine: 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
Paroxetine is a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor and can raise donepezil exposure, increasing cholinergic adverse effects. Both drugs may also affect cardiac conduction, with donepezil causing bradycardia and QT prolongation.
What this interaction means in plain words
Memantine-donepezil and Paroxetine 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.
Memantine-donepezil belongs to Central Nervous System; Paroxetine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
CYP2D6 inhibition reduces donepezil metabolism, with additive bradycardic and QT effects.
What to do
Monitor for nausea, bradycardia, syncope and GI effects, and consider a lower donepezil dose. Consider an SSRI with less CYP2D6 inhibition such as sertraline or citalopram at low 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 Memantine-donepezil
- Dronedarone + Memantine-donepezil Contraindicated
- Memantine-donepezil + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Amantadine + Memantine-donepezil Major
- Amiodarone + Memantine-donepezil Major
- Amisulpride + Memantine-donepezil Major
- Amitriptyline + Memantine-donepezil Major
Other interactions of Paroxetine
- Isocarboxazid + Paroxetine Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Paroxetine Contraindicated
- Paroxetine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Paroxetine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Paroxetine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Paroxetine + Selegiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Memantine-donepezil with Paroxetine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Memantine-donepezil and Paroxetine 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. Paroxetine is a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor and can raise donepezil exposure, increasing cholinergic adverse effects. Both drugs may also affect cardiac conduction, with donepezil causing bradycardia and QT prolongation.
How serious is the interaction between Memantine-donepezil and Paroxetine?
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 for nausea, bradycardia, syncope and GI effects, and consider a lower donepezil dose. Consider an SSRI with less CYP2D6 inhibition such as sertraline or citalopram at low dose.
What other medicines interact with Memantine-donepezil?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Memantine-donepezil with, for example, Dronedarone, Thioridazine, Amantadine. The full list is on the Memantine-donepezil page.
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