Drug interactions
Memantine-donepezil + Secobarbital
Severity: Moderate
Memantine-donepezil and Secobarbital: 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
Barbiturates such as secobarbital induce CYP3A4 and can lower donepezil concentrations, possibly reducing its benefit. Additive sedation and cognitive impairment are also undesirable in dementia patients.
What this interaction means in plain words
Memantine-donepezil and Secobarbital 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; Secobarbital belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Secobarbital induces hepatic CYP3A4, increasing donepezil clearance; it also adds CNS depression.
What to do
Avoid barbiturate hypnotics in dementia where possible; if used, monitor cognitive response and sedation and adjust donepezil as needed.
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 Memantine-donepezil and Secobarbital, 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 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 Secobarbital
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Doravirine + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elbasvir / grazoprevir + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Isavuconazonium + Secobarbital Contraindicated
- Lonafarnib + Secobarbital Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Memantine-donepezil with Secobarbital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Memantine-donepezil and Secobarbital 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. Barbiturates such as secobarbital induce CYP3A4 and can lower donepezil concentrations, possibly reducing its benefit. Additive sedation and cognitive impairment are also undesirable in dementia patients.
How serious is the interaction between Memantine-donepezil and Secobarbital?
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 barbiturate hypnotics in dementia where possible; if used, monitor cognitive response and sedation and adjust donepezil as needed.
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.
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.
