Phenothiazines Nortriptyline

Tricyclic antidepressants, like some of the phenothiazine derivatives, are sedative in nature. Those compounds containing a tertiary amine (imipramine, amitriptyline, and doxepin) are the most sedative. Those compounds containing a secondary amine (nortriptyline and desipramine) are less so, and protriptyline has no sedative effect. 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with amiodarone, amisulpride, amitriptyline, amoxapine, arsenic, bepridil, bretylium, calcium, chlorpromazine, clomipramine, desipramine, disopyramide, doxepin, erythromycin, fluphenazine, imipramine, iron salts, magnesium, mesoridazine, nortriptyline, pentamidine, perphenazine, phenothiazines, pimozide, procainamide, prochlorperazine, promazine, promethazine, protriptyline, quinidine, sotalol, sucralfate, thioridazine, tricyclic antidepressants, trifluoperazine, trimipramine, zinc salts... 

Additive effects are likely after concomitant use of nortriptyline with CNS depressants, including alcohol, analgesics, barbiturates, narcotics, tranquilizers, and anesthetics (oversedation) atropine and other anticholinergic drugs, including phenothiazines, antihistamines, meperidine, and antiparkinsonian agents (oversedation, paralytic ileus, visual changes, and severe constipation) and metrizamide (increased risk of convulsions). 

Barbiturates and heavy smoking induce nortriptyline metabolism and decrease therapeutic efficacy phenothiazines and haloperidol decrease its metabolism, decreasing therapeutic efficacy methylphenidate, cimetidine, oral contraceptives, propoxyphene, and beta-blockers may inhibit nortriptyline metabolism, increasing plasma levels and toxicity (see Tables 5 through 7). 

NORTRIPTYLINE, see Tricyclic antidepressants OXAZEPAM, see Benzodiazepines PERPHENAZINE, see Phenothiazines, piperazine PHENELZINE, see MAO inhibitors PHENOTHIAZINES, ALIPHATIC (chlorpromazine, triflupromazine)... 

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