Drug interactions
Methylene blue + Selegiline
Severity: Contraindicated
Methylene blue and Selegiline: contraindicated 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
Methylene blue is a potent MAO-A inhibitor and can cause serotonin syndrome when combined with serotonergic drugs including selegiline. Severe CNS toxicity has been reported with this class interaction.
What this interaction means in plain words
Methylene blue and Selegiline are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
Additive MAO inhibition raising synaptic serotonin.
What to do
Avoid unless methylene blue is needed urgently. In that case stop selegiline, monitor for serotonin toxicity for up to 2 weeks or until 24 hours after the last methylene blue dose, whichever comes first.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Selegiline
- Amitriptyline + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Atomoxetine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Benzphetamine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Buprenorphine long-acting + Selegiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Methylene blue with Selegiline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Methylene blue and Selegiline are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Methylene blue is a potent MAO-A inhibitor and can cause serotonin syndrome when combined with serotonergic drugs including selegiline. Severe CNS toxicity has been reported with this class interaction.
How serious is the interaction between Methylene blue and Selegiline?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid unless methylene blue is needed urgently. In that case stop selegiline, monitor for serotonin toxicity for up to 2 weeks or until 24 hours after the last methylene blue dose, whichever comes first.
What other medicines interact with Selegiline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Selegiline with, for example, Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Atomoxetine. The full list is on the Selegiline page.
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