Drug General Information (ID: DDIDOL91ZY)
Drug Name			Ethanol		Drug Info		Desipramine		Drug Info
Drug Type		Small molecule				Small molecule
Therapeutic Class		Analgesics				Antidepressants
Structure

Mechanism of Ethanol-Desipramine Interaction (Severity Level: Moderate)
Additive CNS depression effects Click to Show/Hide Mechanism Graph
Drug Name		Ethanol				Desipramine
Mechanism		CNS depression effects				CNS depression effects
Key Mechanism Factor 1
		Factor Name		CNS depression effects
		Factor Description		CNS depressants are drugs that inhibit or suppress brain activity and can reduce mental and physical processes. Excessive CNS depression can lead to decreased heart rate, slow breathing (less than 10 breaths per minute), extreme confusion or loss of memory, nausea and vomiting, poor judgment, blue lips or fingertips, irritability and aggression, and clammy or cold skin.
Mechanism Description		Additive CNS depression effects by the combination of Ethanol and Desipramine

Recommended Action
Management		Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during TCA therapy. Alcoholics who have undergone detoxification should be monitored for decreased TCA efficacy. Dosage adjustments may be required.

References
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2	Ciraulo DA, Barnhill JG, Jaffe JH "Clinical pharmacokinetics of imipramine and desipramine in alcoholics and normal volunteers." Clin Pharmacol Ther 43 (1988): 509-18. [PMID: 3365915]
3	Ciraulo DA, Barnhill JG, Jaffe JH, Ciraulo AM, Tarmey MF "Intravenous pharmacokinetics of 2-hydroxyimipramine in alcoholics and normal controls." J Stud Alcohol 51 (1990): 366-72. [PMID: 2359311]
4	Dorian P, Sellers EM, Reed KL, et al "Amitriptyline and ethanol: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction." Eur J Clin Pharmacol 25 (1983): 325-31. [PMID: 6628520]
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