|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (FEN
el
zeen) |
|
|
| 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).
|
|
|
Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
