|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (FEN
el
zeen) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Nardil® |
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| 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).
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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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