tranylcypromine

Brand name(s):

Parnate

What is the most important information I should know about tranylcypromine?

There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with tranylcypromine. Do not take tranylcypromine before telling your doctor about all other prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor, dentist, or other healthcare provider who treats you.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. While you are taking tranylcypromine, you must not drink alcohol or eat foods that are high in tyramine, listed in the "What should I avoid while taking tranylcypromine?" section of this leaflet. Eating tyramine while you are taking tranylcypromine can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels, causing life-threatening symptoms such as sudden and severe headache, confusion, blurred vision, problems with speech or balance, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, seizure (convulsions), and sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body). Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.

You should become very familiar with the list of foods you must avoid while you are taking tranylcypromine.

Tranylcypromine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

What is tranylcypromine?

Tranylcypromine is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) that works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain.

Tranylcypromine is used to treat major depressive episode in adults. This medication is usually given after other anti-depressants have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms. Tranylcypromine will not treat bipolar disorder (manic depression).

Tranylcypromine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tranylcypromine?

Do not use this medication if you have used another MAOI such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take tranylcypromine before another MAOI has cleared from your body. If you are switching to tranylcypromine from another MAOI, your doctor may start you at a low dose.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with tranylcypromine. The following drugs should not be used while you are taking tranylcypromine:

antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil);
antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft);
blood pressure medicine such as guanethidine (Ismelin), methyldopa (Aldomet), and reserpine;
diet pills, stimulants, ADHD medications, over-the-counter cough and cold or allergy medicines;
doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan);
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril);
maprotiline (Ludiomil);
procarbazine (Matulane);
bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban);
dexfenfluramine (Redux);
buspirone (BuSpar);
tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan);
levodopa (Larodopa, Parcopa, Sinemet); or
meperidine (Demerol, Mepergan).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

heart disease, high blood pressure, circulation problems, or a history of stroke;
a history of headaches (migraine, cluster, or other types);
diabetes; or
a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use tranylcypromine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

This medication may be habit-forming. You may have withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, headache, weakness, depression, or hallucinations) when you stop using tranylcypromine after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Tranylcypromine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from tranylcypromine.

Do not give tranylcypromine to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Page: 1 2 3 Next >

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.