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Nardil

Brand Names

; Nardil®

Therapeutic Categories

Antidepressant, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to phenelzine or any other part of the medicine.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Uncontrolled high blood pressure, pheochromocytoma, liver disease, weakened heart (congestive heart failure).
• If you are taking any of these medicines: A stimulant; depressant; meperidine; bupropion; guanethidine; any medicines affecting serotonin such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, fluvoxamine; general anesthesia; spinal anesthesia.
• If you drink alcohol.
• If you are eating foods with a high tyramine content, eating chocolate, drinking caffeine-containing products.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used for the treatment of depression. It is usually given after other medicines have failed to help.

How does it work?

• Phenelzine increases chemicals in the brain. The low levels of these chemicals may have caused the depression. Sleep and appetite may improve quickly. Other symptoms may take up to 4-6 weeks to improve.

How is it best taken?

• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Stay away from tyramine-containing foods and drinks. Talk with healthcare provider and nutritionist.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Wear drug medical alert identification for monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These include isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.
• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Avoid alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can cause life-threatening high blood pressure even 2 weeks after medicine is stopped.
• Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake. Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and anxiety.
• Use caution if you have high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this medicine. You may have to stop medicine before surgery.
• Do not use over-the-counter products that may affect blood pressure. These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Do not use over-the-counter medicines containing dextromethorphan (Robitussin-DM®) or pseudoephedrine. Can cause life-threatening high blood pressure.
• Do not take with other medicines for depression, diet pills, stimulants like amphetamines, reserpine, or pain medicines. There should be 2 weeks between stopping one medicine and starting this one.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, tired, or having blurred vision. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
• Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
• Inability to sleep.
• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.

What should I monitor?

• Check blood pressure regularly.
• Follow diet plan as recommended by healthcare provider. Avoid tyramine-containing products.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Confusion; very nervous; anger with sweating, shivering, stiffness, or shaking.
• Severe headache, rapid heartbeats, or pounding in the chest.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

General statements

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).