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Drug interactions

Nortriptyline + Safinamide

Severity: Contraindicated

Nortriptyline and Safinamide: 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

Safinamide is a MAO-B inhibitor and its labeling warns against use with tricyclic antidepressants because of serotonin syndrome and blood pressure effects.

What this interaction means in plain words

Nortriptyline and Safinamide 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.

Nortriptyline belongs to Central Nervous System; Safinamide belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

MAO-B inhibition together with tricyclic reuptake blockade increases monoaminergic activity.

What to do

Do not co-administer; follow labeled washout intervals when changing therapy and choose another antidepressant.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Nortriptyline with Safinamide?

MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Nortriptyline and Safinamide 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. Safinamide is a MAO-B inhibitor and its labeling warns against use with tricyclic antidepressants because of serotonin syndrome and blood pressure effects.

How serious is the interaction between Nortriptyline and Safinamide?

MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not co-administer; follow labeled washout intervals when changing therapy and choose another antidepressant.

What other medicines interact with Nortriptyline?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Nortriptyline with, for example, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Nortriptyline page.

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