PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

mirtazapine vs tranylcypromine

Side-by-side comparison of mirtazapine 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

Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs with mirtazapine increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Recommendation: Avoid this combination and talk to your doctor about safer treatment options.

Drug Class
mirtazapine Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressant (NaSSA)
tranylcypromine Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)
Type
mirtazapine Prescription
tranylcypromine Prescription
Summary
mirtazapine

Mirtazapine is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It can help improve your mood and energy levels.

tranylcypromine

Tranylcypromine (Parnate) is a medicine used to treat major depression in adults. It is used when other antidepressants have not worked well enough.

What It Treats
mirtazapine

Mirtazapine is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. This condition can cause you to feel sad, lose interest in activities, and have trouble with sleeping or eating. Mirtazapine can help improve these symptoms.

tranylcypromine

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.

How It Works
mirtazapine

Mirtazapine works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. It helps to increase the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin. These chemicals can help improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

tranylcypromine

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.

Common Side Effects
mirtazapine
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Increased appetite
  • Weight gain
  • Dizziness
tranylcypromine
  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
mirtazapine
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 4,838
  • Feeling tired 4,714
  • Accidentally falling down 4,026
  • Loose or watery stools 3,961
  • Harm from different substances 3,705
tranylcypromine
  • Interaction between medicines 68
  • Feeling sad or hopeless 36
  • Too much serotonin in the body 27
  • Head pain 24
  • High blood pressure 24
Serious Warnings
mirtazapine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor should closely watch you for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Mirtazapine is not approved for use in children.

tranylcypromine

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.

Pregnancy
mirtazapine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Mirtazapine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

tranylcypromine

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.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare tranylcypromine with

How to Read This mirtazapine vs tranylcypromine Comparison

mirtazapine is classified in the Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressant (NaSSA) 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, mirtazapine has 21,244 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 both work by raising serotonin levels in your system. using them at the same time increases the risk of a serious condition called 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 mirtazapine 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.