phenelzine vs tranylcypromine
Side-by-side comparison of phenelzine and tranylcypromine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Nardil
Parnate
Phenelzine (Nardil) is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors.
Tranylcypromine (Parnate) is a medicine used to treat major depression in adults. It is used when other antidepressants have not worked well enough.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Drowsiness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Tiredness
- • Dry mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Headache
- The medicine is not working 330
- Feeling sad or hopeless 187
- Head pain 136
- Feeling worried or nervous 129
- Gaining weight 120
- Interaction between medicines 68
- Feeling sad or hopeless 36
- Medicine not working 31
- Too much serotonin in the body 27
- Head pain 24
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to Read This phenelzine vs tranylcypromine Comparison
phenelzine is classified in the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) drug class, while tranylcypromine sits within the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, phenelzine has 902 submissions while tranylcypromine has 186. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 phenelzine 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.