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phenelzine vs vortioxetine

Side-by-side comparison of phenelzine and vortioxetine. 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

[see Dosage and Administration (2.4) , Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact Concomitant use of TRINTELLIX with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Recommendation: Do not take these drugs together. Your doctor will likely have you wait at least 14 days between stopping one and starting the other.

Drug Class
phenelzine Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)
vortioxetine Serotonin Modulator
Type
phenelzine Prescription
vortioxetine Prescription
Summary
phenelzine

Phenelzine (Nardil) is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors.

vortioxetine

Trintellix is a medicine used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. It helps to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

What It Treats
phenelzine

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.

vortioxetine

Trintellix is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. MDD can cause you to feel sad, hopeless, and lose interest in things. This medicine can help improve your mood and reduce these symptoms.

How It Works
phenelzine

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.

vortioxetine

Trintellix affects the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, like serotonin, help regulate mood. By changing the balance of these chemicals, Trintellix can help improve symptoms of depression.

Common Side Effects
phenelzine
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Drowsiness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Tiredness
vortioxetine
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
phenelzine
  • Feeling sad or hopeless 187
  • Head pain 136
  • Feeling worried or nervous 129
  • Gaining weight 120
  • Trouble sleeping 104
vortioxetine
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,185
  • Feeling very tired 1,179
  • Pain in your head 1,027
  • Feeling worried or nervous 996
  • Throwing up 989
Serious Warnings
phenelzine

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.

vortioxetine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts, especially when you first start taking Trintellix or when your dose is changed. Trintellix is not approved for use in children.

Pregnancy
phenelzine

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.

vortioxetine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking Trintellix in the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare phenelzine with

How to Read This phenelzine vs vortioxetine Comparison

phenelzine is classified in the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) drug class, while vortioxetine sits within the Serotonin Modulator 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, phenelzine has 676 submissions while vortioxetine has 6,376. 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 level of a brain chemical called serotonin. having too much serotonin can cause a dangerous 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 phenelzine and vortioxetine - 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.