Does Tetrabenazine Interact with Reserpine?
CDI records a contraindicated classification for Tetrabenazine and Reserpine. The stored summary is: Should not be used concomitantly. Must wait at least 20 days after stopping reserpine before starting tetrabenazine to avoid overdosage and major CNS depletion of serotonin and norepinephrine. The mechanism involves both deplete monoamines via vmat2 binding. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Contraindicated
- Tetrabenazine Class
- Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 Inhibitor
- Management
- Do not take together
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Both deplete monoamines via VMAT2 binding
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Tetrabenazine and your doctor is considering prescribing Reserpine (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask about alternative medications that do not interact with your current regimen
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider