fluvoxamine vs phenelzine
Side-by-side comparison of fluvoxamine and phenelzine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Drug Interactions 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.
Recommendation: Do not use these medicines together because the combination can be fatal.
Luvox
Nardil
Fluvoxamine is a medicine that can help treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Phenelzine (Nardil) is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors.
Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD involves having constant, unwanted thoughts or behaviors that you feel the need to repeat. These thoughts or actions can cause you distress and interfere with your daily life.
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.
Fluvoxamine works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood. By increasing serotonin, fluvoxamine can help reduce the symptoms of OCD.
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.
- • Abnormal ejaculation
- • Loss of appetite
- • Problems having an orgasm
- • Weakness
- • Diarrhea
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Drowsiness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Tiredness
- This medicine is interacting with another medicine 215
- Feeling sick to your stomach 117
- Sleepiness 114
- Feeling worried or nervous 103
- Thinking about suicide 96
- Feeling sad or hopeless 187
- Head pain 136
- Feeling worried or nervous 129
- Gaining weight 120
- Trouble sleeping 104
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teenagers, and young adults. Tell your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, especially if they are new, get worse, or worry you. Watch for suicidal thoughts or actions. Families and caregivers should also be aware of these risks.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fluvoxamine may cause problems for the baby if taken during pregnancy. Fluvoxamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.
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.
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How to Read This fluvoxamine vs phenelzine Comparison
fluvoxamine is classified in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) 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, fluvoxamine has 645 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, which can cause a very dangerous and life-threatening reaction.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between fluvoxamine and phenelzine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.