Drug interactions
Procarbazine + Protriptyline
Severity: Contraindicated
Procarbazine and Protriptyline: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated Sources: Health Canada product monograph
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
Procarbazine has MAO inhibitor activity, and protriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that blocks noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake. The combination can cause serotonin syndrome or hypertensive crisis.
What this interaction means in plain words
Procarbazine and Protriptyline 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
MAO inhibition plus monoamine reuptake blockade raises synaptic serotonin and noradrenaline.
What to do
Avoid the combination. Allow at least 14 days between stopping procarbazine and starting protriptyline, and the reverse.
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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References
Other interactions of Procarbazine
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Atomoxetine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Procarbazine with Protriptyline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Procarbazine and Protriptyline 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. Procarbazine has MAO inhibitor activity, and protriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that blocks noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake. The combination can cause serotonin syndrome or hypertensive crisis.
How serious is the interaction between Procarbazine and Protriptyline?
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. Allow at least 14 days between stopping procarbazine and starting protriptyline, and the reverse.
What other medicines interact with Procarbazine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Procarbazine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Amitriptyline, Amoxapine. The full list is on the Procarbazine page.
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