Phenelzine — Membership Pricing

Other medications in Mental Health

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• Pimozide
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• Quetiapine
• Ramelteon
• Risperidone
• Sertraline

What Phenelzine is approved for (FDA label)

Phenelzine sulfate has been found to be effective in depressed patients clinically characterized as "atypical," "nonendogenous," or "neurotic." These patients often have mixed anxiety and depression and phobic or hypochondriacal features. There is less conclusive evidence of its usefulness with severely depressed patients with endogenous features. Phenelzine sulfate should rarely be the first antidepressant drug used. Rather, it is more suitable for use with patients who have failed to respond to the drugs more commonly used for these conditions.

Source: Read the full FDA label on DailyMed. Label effective date: May 21, 2026.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Boxed warning for Phenelzine (FDA label)

Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of phenelzine sulfate or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Phenelzine sulfate is not approved for use in pediatric patients. (See Warnings: Clinical Worsening and Suicide Risk , Precautions: Information for Patients , and Precautions: Pediatric Use )

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: fa041652-fdde-4794-a8d2-279dd309e075. SPL document ID: d7302106-710a-49a4-9ab4-2de28937306c. Label effective date: May 21, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Adverse reactions for Phenelzine (FDA label)

Phenelzine sulfate is a potent inhibitor of monoamine oxidase. Because this enzyme is widely distributed throughout the body, diverse pharmacologic effects can be expected to occur. When they occur, such effects tend to be mild or moderate in severity (see below), often subside as treatment continues, and can be minimized by adjusting dosage; rarely is it necessary to institute counteracting measures or to discontinue phenelzine sulfate. Common side effects include: Nervous System —Dizziness, headache, drowsiness, sleep disturbances (including insomnia and hypersomnia), fatigue, weakness, tremors, twitching, myoclonic movements, hyperreflexia. Gastrointestin al—Constipation, dry mouth, gastrointestinal disturbances, elevated serum transaminases (without accompanying signs and symptoms). Metabolic —Weight gain. Cardiovascular —Postural hypotension, edema. Genitourinary —Sexual disturbances, eg, anorgasmia and ejaculatory disturbances and impotence.

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: fa041652-fdde-4794-a8d2-279dd309e075. SPL document ID: d7302106-710a-49a4-9ab4-2de28937306c. Label effective date: May 21, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Contraindications for Phenelzine (FDA label)

Phenelzine sulfate should not be used in patients who are hypersensitive to the drug or its ingredients, with pheochromocytoma, congestive heart failure, severe renal impairment or renal disease, a history of liver disease, or abnormal liver function tests. The potentiation of sympathomimetic substances and related compounds by MAO inhibitors may result in hypertensive crises (see WARNINGS ). Therefore, patients being treated with phenelzine sulfate should not take sympathomimetic drugs (including amphetamines, cocaine, methylphenidate, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) or related compounds (including methyldopa, L-dopa, L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, and phenylalanine). Hypertensive crises during phenelzine sulfate therapy may also be caused by the ingestion of foods with a high concentration of tyramine or dopamine. Therefore, patients being treated with phenelzine sulfate should avoid high protein food that has undergone protein breakdown by aging, fermentation, pickling, smoking, or bacterial contamination.

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: fa041652-fdde-4794-a8d2-279dd309e075. SPL document ID: d7302106-710a-49a4-9ab4-2de28937306c. Label effective date: May 21, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions for Phenelzine (FDA label)

In patients receiving nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors in combination with serotoninergic agents (e.g., dexfenfluramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, venlafaxine) there have been reports of serious, sometimes fatal, reactions. Because phenelzine sulfate is a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, phenelzine sulfate should not be used concomitantly with a serotoninergic agent (See CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Administration of guanethidine to patients receiving an MAO inhibitor can produce moderate to severe hypertension due to release of catecholamines. At least two weeks should elapse between withdrawal of the MAO inhibitor and the initiation of guanethidine. (see CONTRAINDICATIONS )

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: fa041652-fdde-4794-a8d2-279dd309e075. SPL document ID: d7302106-710a-49a4-9ab4-2de28937306c. Label effective date: May 21, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.