If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you
should not use tyrosine supplements without first talking to your healthcare
provider.
Antidepressant Medications, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
(MAOIs)
Tyrosine may cause a severe increase in blood pressure in
people taking MAOIs (such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine, pargyline, and
selegiline). This severe increase in blood pressure (also called
"hypertensive crisis") can lead to a heart attack or stroke. For this reason,
individuals taking MAOIs should foods and supplements containing tyrosine.
Appetite suppressant Medications
In a rat study, L-tyrosine increased the appetite-suppressant effects of
phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, and amphetamine. More research is needed to
determine whether L-tyrosine produces similar results in humans.
Morphine
Although the application for humans is unclear,
animal studies suggest that tyrosine increases the pain-relieving effects of
morphine.
Levodopa
Tyrosine should not be taken at the same time as
levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease because levodopa may
interfere with the absorption of tyrosine.
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Alternative Medicine
