methyldopa vs tranylcypromine
Side-by-side comparison of methyldopa and tranylcypromine. 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
Product Clinical Comment on Concomitant Use [See Contraindications (4.1)] ; Predominant Effect/Risk [Hypertensive Reaction (HR) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] ; or Serotonin Syndrome (SS) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] ] Altretamine Use with caution If not otherwise specified in this table, consider avoiding concomitant use (see also information on medication-free intervals , use agent at the lowest appropriate dose, monitor for effects of the interaction, advise the patient to report potential effects, and be prepared to discontinue the agent and treat effects of the...
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to choose a different blood pressure medicine or adjust your dosages. You should report any sudden, severe headaches or vision changes to your healthcare provider immediately.
Aldomet
Parnate
Methyldopa is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It helps to lower your blood pressure.
Tranylcypromine (Parnate) is a medicine used to treat major depression in adults. It is used when other antidepressants have not worked well enough.
Methyldopa is used to treat hypertension, which is also known as high blood pressure. High blood pressure can strain the heart and blood vessels. Lowering blood pressure can reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
Tranylcypromine is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. You should only use it if other antidepressants haven't helped. It is not for the first treatment of depression because it can cause serious side effects and has many drug and food interactions.
Methyldopa lowers blood pressure by affecting certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals help to relax blood vessels, which allows blood to flow more easily. This results in lower blood pressure.
Tranylcypromine belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors. It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals can help improve your mood.
- • Sedation
- • Headache
- • Weakness
- • Dry mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Headache
- Baby exposed to drug during pregnancy 1,261
- Baby born too early 888
- Mother exposed to drug during pregnancy 794
- Exposure to drug during pregnancy 654
- Delivery before term 561
- Interaction between medicines 68
- Feeling sad or hopeless 36
- Too much serotonin in the body 27
- Head pain 24
- High blood pressure 24
You should not take methyldopa if you have active liver disease like hepatitis or cirrhosis. Also, do not take it if you have had liver problems caused by methyldopa in the past. Do not take it if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in methyldopa. You should not take this medicine if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor.
Tranylcypromine can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. It can also cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure if you eat foods high in tyramine or take certain medicines. Make sure to follow all food and drug restrictions.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Methyldopa can pass into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
There is limited information about the safety of tranylcypromine during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking this medicine because it can harm the baby.
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How to Read This methyldopa vs tranylcypromine Comparison
methyldopa is classified in the Central Alpha-2 Agonist drug class, while tranylcypromine 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, methyldopa has 4,158 submissions while tranylcypromine has 179. 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 these drugs interact by changing how your body regulates chemicals that control your heart and blood vessels. this can lead to a dangerous hypertensive reaction or serotonin syndrome.. 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 methyldopa and tranylcypromine - 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.