Drug interactions
Nortriptyline + Oxycodone
Severity: Moderate
Nortriptyline and Oxycodone: 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
Nortriptyline is sedating and adds to oxycodone's CNS and respiratory depression. Both drugs can cause constipation and urinary retention, and tricyclics may have rare serotonergic effects with opioids.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nortriptyline and Oxycodone 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.
Nortriptyline belongs to Central Nervous System; Oxycodone belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and anticholinergic effects.
What to do
Monitor for sedation, respiratory depression and constipation, and use the lowest effective doses. Counsel patients on driving and alcohol.
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 Oxycodone
- Alvimopan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Olanzapine / samidorphan + Oxycodone Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Oxycodone + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
Other interactions of Nortriptyline
- Disopyramide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Nortriptyline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Nortriptyline with Oxycodone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Nortriptyline and Oxycodone 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. Nortriptyline is sedating and adds to oxycodone's CNS and respiratory depression. Both drugs can cause constipation and urinary retention, and tricyclics may have rare serotonergic effects with opioids.
How serious is the interaction between Nortriptyline and Oxycodone?
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 sedation, respiratory depression and constipation, and use the lowest effective doses. Counsel patients on driving and alcohol.
What other medicines interact with Oxycodone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Oxycodone with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Oxycodone page.
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