bupropion vs phenelzine
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Side-by-side comparison of bupropion and phenelzine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Studies in animals demonstrate that the acute toxicity of bupropion is enhanced by the MAO inhibitor phenelzine.
Wellbutrin, Zyban
Nardil
Bupropion is a medicine used to treat depression and prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It can help improve your mood and energy levels.
Phenelzine (Nardil) is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors.
Bupropion is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), which can cause you to feel sad, lose interest in activities, and have trouble sleeping or eating. It is also used to prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the fall and winter.
This medicine treats depression, especially when it involves anxiety, phobias, or hypochondria. It is often used when other antidepressants haven't worked. It may not be as effective for severe depression with 'endogenous' features.
Bupropion works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain called norepinephrine and dopamine. It helps to increase the levels of these chemicals, which can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
Phenelzine works by blocking an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO) in your body. MAO breaks down certain chemicals in the brain, like serotonin and norepinephrine. By blocking MAO, phenelzine helps increase the levels of these chemicals, which can improve mood.
- • Dry mouth
- • Nausea
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Dizziness
- • Sore throat
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Drowsiness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Tiredness
- Completed Suicide 4,408
- Toxicity To Various Agents 3,113
- Fatigue 2,665
- Nausea 2,309
- Headache 2,218
- Depression 187
- Headache 136
- Anxiety 129
- Weight Increased 120
- Insomnia 104
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens, and young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes and report them to the doctor. This medicine is not approved for use in children.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is important to consider the risks of untreated depression during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.
It is not known if phenelzine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
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How to Read This bupropion vs phenelzine Comparison
bupropion is classified in the Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI) drug class, while phenelzine sits within the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, bupropion has 14,713 submissions while phenelzine has 676. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to phenelzine can make the harmful or toxic effects of bupropion much stronger and more dangerous to your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for bupropion or phenelzine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.