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oxcarbazepine vs tranylcypromine

Side-by-side comparison of oxcarbazepine 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: Use caution if these drugs are prescribed together and consider avoiding the combination. Your doctor should use the lowest dose possible and watch you closely for any bad reactions.

Drug Class
oxcarbazepine Anticonvulsant
tranylcypromine Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)
Type
oxcarbazepine Prescription
tranylcypromine Prescription
Summary
oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine is a medicine used to treat seizures. It helps to control seizures in adults and children.

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
oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine is used to treat partial-onset seizures. These seizures start in one part of the brain. It can be used alone or with other seizure medicines.

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
oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine works by reducing the electrical activity in the brain. This helps to prevent seizures. It stabilizes overexcited nerve cells.

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
oxcarbazepine
  • Dizziness
  • Sleepiness
  • Double vision
  • Feeling tired
  • Nausea
tranylcypromine
  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
oxcarbazepine
  • Seizure 2,805
  • Tiredness 1,607
  • Feeling dizzy 1,519
  • Convulsion 1,465
  • Headache 1,434
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
oxcarbazepine

This medicine can cause low sodium levels in your blood. Your doctor should check your sodium levels, especially if you take other medicines that can also lower sodium. This medicine may cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Contact your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood, thoughts, or feelings.

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
oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take this medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll by calling 1-888-233-2334.

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

How to Read This oxcarbazepine vs tranylcypromine Comparison

oxcarbazepine is classified in the Anticonvulsant 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, oxcarbazepine has 8,830 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 taking these medicines together can cause a risky increase in serotonin levels or a sudden, severe rise in blood pressure. this happens because both drugs interfere with how the body processes certain brain chemicals.. 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 oxcarbazepine 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.