Drug interactions
Pseudoephedrine + Selegiline transdermal
Severity: Contraindicated
Pseudoephedrine 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 inhibits MAO and at antidepressant doses is contraindicated with sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine. Indirect sympathomimetics release stored norepinephrine, which can trigger a hypertensive crisis.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pseudoephedrine 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
MAO inhibition prevents norepinephrine breakdown, potentiating the norepinephrine release caused by pseudoephedrine.
What to do
Do not combine; avoid pseudoephedrine during and for about 2 weeks after stopping selegiline patch. Treat hypertensive crisis emergently if it occurs.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Pseudoephedrine and Selegiline transdermal, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Pseudoephedrine
- Isocarboxazid + Pseudoephedrine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Pseudoephedrine Contraindicated
- Pseudoephedrine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Pseudoephedrine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Pseudoephedrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Benzphetamine + Pseudoephedrine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pseudoephedrine with Selegiline transdermal?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Pseudoephedrine 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 inhibits MAO and at antidepressant doses is contraindicated with sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine. Indirect sympathomimetics release stored norepinephrine, which can trigger a hypertensive crisis.
How serious is the interaction between Pseudoephedrine 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; avoid pseudoephedrine during and for about 2 weeks after stopping selegiline patch. Treat hypertensive crisis emergently if it occurs.
What other medicines interact with Pseudoephedrine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pseudoephedrine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Rasagiline. The full list is on the Pseudoephedrine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
