Drug & supplement interaction

Scopolia + Desipramine

Desipramine brand names: Norpramin, Desipramine, Pertofrane.

Major Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Major

Desipramine falls into 2 drug categories that Scopolia can interact with; the most serious is rated major. The alkaloid constituents of scopolia, including hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and atropine, could potentiate the effects and adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Scopolia and Desipramine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Scopolia interacts with whole categories of medication. Desipramine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Scopolia in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Major).

Major

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Desipramine

Desipramine falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS — the group Scopolia interacts with.

The alkaloid constituents of scopolia, including hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and atropine, could potentiate the effects and adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing about desipramine: even though it's mainly known as an antidepressant, it carries its own anticholinergic effects, meaning it already blocks some of that acetylcholine messenger in your body. Scopolia is loaded with strong anticholinergic alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine), so pairing them is like stacking two of the same effect on top of each other.

When that happens, you could see more of the bothersome stuff desipramine can already cause: dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, trouble urinating, a racing heart, confusion, or feeling overheated. In older adults especially, this combo can tip into delirium. This warning is based on how these compounds work rather than hard human studies, but the concern is real and the rating is major. Please don't use Scopolia with desipramine without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
Major

TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS (TCAs)

2 of 2

Desipramine also falls under TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS (TCAs).

Concomitant use of TCAs with scopolia can increase the risk for anticholinergic effects and adverse effects.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing to know about pairing these two: desipramine, like other tricyclic antidepressants, already carries its own anticholinergic punch. Scopolia is loaded with strong anticholinergic alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine). Stack them together and you're not blocking acetylcholine twice as gently, you're piling on. This isn't about one drug breaking down the other. It's the same type of effect adding up.

What might you actually feel? Worse dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, trouble urinating, a racing heart, and confusion, especially in older folks. This rating is based on pharmacology (theory), not a pile of human studies, but the logic is solid enough that I'd take it seriously. Please don't combine these on your own. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Scopolia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Scopolia has 199 major, known drug interactions in our database — the Desipramine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 199 No known interaction 2,631 (incl. Desipramine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Scopolia

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Scopolia. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Scopolia or Desipramine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Scopolia or Desipramine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Desipramine

This page covers Scopolia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Desipramine page lists 253 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major) and Beer (major).

By severity: 16 major · 198 moderate · 39 minor.

Open the Desipramine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Scopolia and Desipramine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Scopolia
Steady interest

#1,051 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Desipramine
Top half

#960 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Scopolia

What is Scopolia?

Scopolia
  • Stomach and intestinal cramps
  • Motion sickness
  • Spasms and colic
  • Excess saliva or secretions
  • Pain relief (traditional)

Scopolia is a poisonous plant in the nightshade family that contains powerful anticholinergic alkaloids like atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. While these compounds are used in carefully measured prescription medicines, the raw plant is dangerous for self-treatment and should never be used without a doctor's supervision.

Read the full Scopolia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Desipramine

What Is Desipramine Used For?

Brand names: Norpramin, Desipramine, Pertofrane

Desipramine hydrochloride tablets — sold under the brand names Norpramin, Desipramine HCL, and Desipramine Hydrochloride — are FDA-approved for the treatment of depression in adults. Norpramin tablets and the generic formulations share this same approved indication.

Desipramine tablets are not approved for use in children. Adolescents and elderly patients may be prescribed it in certain circumstances, but at lower doses and under close supervision.

See full Desipramine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Scopolia

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Scopolia — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

199Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,630No known interaction
199 Major 2,630 No interaction
Major

199 interactions

Showing 60 of 199 major interactions — see all 199 on the Scopolia page.

No interaction 2,630 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Scopolia against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,630 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Scopolia list.

See the full Scopolia interactions page
See every supplement checked against Desipramine, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Scopolia and Desipramine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Scopolia with Desipramine?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Scopolia and Desipramine?
Desipramine belongs to more than one drug category, and Scopolia interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Scopolia and Desipramine interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Desipramine and Scopolia?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.