Drug interactions
Phenylephrine + Terbutaline
Severity: Moderate
Phenylephrine and Terbutaline: 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
Both drugs have sympathomimetic activity, so combined use can add to increases in heart rate and blood pressure and may provoke palpitations, tremor or arrhythmia. Patients with cardiovascular disease or hypertension are at greater risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Phenylephrine and Terbutaline 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.
Phenylephrine belongs to Respiratory; Terbutaline belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive adrenergic receptor stimulation (alpha-1 vasoconstriction with beta-2 agonism and reflex or direct cardiac stimulation).
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm when systemic or high-dose phenylephrine is used with terbutaline. Avoid oral decongestants in patients with cardiovascular disease who need terbutaline.
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 Phenylephrine
- Isocarboxazid + Phenylephrine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Phenylephrine Contraindicated
- Phenylephrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Bromocriptine + Phenylephrine Major
- Cocaine + Phenylephrine Major
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Phenylephrine Major
Other interactions of Terbutaline
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Phenylephrine with Terbutaline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Phenylephrine and Terbutaline 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. Both drugs have sympathomimetic activity, so combined use can add to increases in heart rate and blood pressure and may provoke palpitations, tremor or arrhythmia. Patients with cardiovascular disease or hypertension are at greater risk.
How serious is the interaction between Phenylephrine and Terbutaline?
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 blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm when systemic or high-dose phenylephrine is used with terbutaline. Avoid oral decongestants in patients with cardiovascular disease who need terbutaline.
What other medicines interact with Phenylephrine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Phenylephrine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine. The full list is on the Phenylephrine page.
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