phenylephrine vs tranylcypromine
Side-by-side comparison of phenylephrine and tranylcypromine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
Excessive reduction of blood glucose (additive effect) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.14)] ; CNS depressant agents (including opioids, alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics) Use with caution Increased CNS depression Dietary supplements containing sympathomimetics Contraindicated Antidepressants including but not limited to: • Other MAOIs (e.g., linezolid, intravenous methylene blue, selective MAOIs) • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) • Tricyclic antidepressants • Amoxapine, bupropion, maprotiline, nefazodone, trazodone,...
Recommendation: Do not use these medicines together. Always check with your pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter cold or allergy medicines while on tranylcypromine.
Neo-Synephrine
Parnate
Phenylephrine is a medicine that helps relieve cold and flu symptoms. It can reduce fever and relieve pain.
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 temporarily relieves symptoms from a cold. It can help with minor aches and pains, headache, and nasal and sinus congestion. It can also soothe a sore throat and cough caused by minor throat irritation. Phenylephrine can also temporarily reduce fever.
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.
Phenylephrine works by narrowing blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. This helps to reduce congestion and makes it easier to breathe. It also helps to reduce inflammation and pain.
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.
No common side effects listed.
- • Dry mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Headache
- Blistering skin disorder 948
- Swollen joint 920
- Pain 902
- Rheumatoid arthritis 872
- Inflammation around the heart 868
- Interaction between medicines 68
- Feeling sad or hopeless 36
- Too much serotonin in the body 27
- Head pain 24
- High blood pressure 24
Do not take more medicine than directed, as overdose can be dangerous. Do not use this medicine in children under 12 years of age.
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 this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are 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.
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How to Read This phenylephrine vs tranylcypromine Comparison
phenylephrine is classified in the Alpha-1 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, phenylephrine has 4,510 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 major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to tranylcypromine blocks the enzyme that normally processes phenylephrine, leading to an extreme and unsafe increase in blood pressure.. 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 phenylephrine 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.