Drug interactions
Methylene blue + Vortioxetine
Severity: Contraindicated
Methylene blue and Vortioxetine: 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 reversible MAO-A inhibitor, and combining it with vortioxetine can cause serotonin syndrome. Features include agitation, hyperthermia, clonus, and seizures, and the reaction can be life-threatening.
What this interaction means in plain words
Methylene blue and Vortioxetine 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
Methylene blue inhibits MAO-A, adding to the serotonin reuptake inhibition and receptor activity of vortioxetine and producing excess serotonergic stimulation.
What to do
Avoid the combination. If methylene blue is urgently needed, stop vortioxetine and monitor for serotonin syndrome for up to 3 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 Vortioxetine
- Isocarboxazid + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Linezolid + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Selegiline transdermal + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Selegiline + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Methylene blue with Vortioxetine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Methylene blue and Vortioxetine 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 reversible MAO-A inhibitor, and combining it with vortioxetine can cause serotonin syndrome. Features include agitation, hyperthermia, clonus, and seizures, and the reaction can be life-threatening.
How serious is the interaction between Methylene blue and Vortioxetine?
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 the combination. If methylene blue is urgently needed, stop vortioxetine and monitor for serotonin syndrome for up to 3 weeks or until 24 hours after the last methylene blue dose, whichever comes first.
What other medicines interact with Vortioxetine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Vortioxetine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Linezolid, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Vortioxetine page.
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