Drug interactions
Nortriptyline + Selegiline transdermal
Severity: Contraindicated
Nortriptyline and Selegiline transdermal: 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
Transdermal selegiline is an MAO inhibitor at antidepressant doses and its labeling contraindicates tricyclic antidepressants. Together they can cause serotonin syndrome or hypertensive crisis.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nortriptyline and Selegiline transdermal 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
Irreversible MAO inhibition combined with tricyclic inhibition of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake.
What to do
Do not combine; allow a washout of at least 2 weeks after stopping nortriptyline before starting selegiline, and 2 weeks after stopping selegiline before starting nortriptyline.
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 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 Selegiline transdermal?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Nortriptyline and Selegiline transdermal 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. Transdermal selegiline is an MAO inhibitor at antidepressant doses and its labeling contraindicates tricyclic antidepressants. Together they can cause serotonin syndrome or hypertensive crisis.
How serious is the interaction between Nortriptyline and Selegiline transdermal?
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 combine; allow a washout of at least 2 weeks after stopping nortriptyline before starting selegiline, and 2 weeks after stopping selegiline before starting nortriptyline.
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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