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tapentadol vs tranylcypromine

Side-by-side comparison of tapentadol 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: You should generally avoid taking these two drugs at the same time. If you must use both, your doctor will need to watch your health very carefully.

Drug Class
tapentadol Opioid / Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
tranylcypromine Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)
Type
tapentadol Prescription
tranylcypromine Prescription
Summary
tapentadol

Nucynta is a strong pain medicine. It is used to treat severe acute pain when other pain medicines are not strong enough.

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
tapentadol

Nucynta is used to manage acute pain in adults and children (6 years and older weighing at least 88 pounds). This medicine is for severe pain that requires an opioid pain reliever. It is used when other pain treatments are not adequate.

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
tapentadol

Nucynta works in two ways to relieve pain. It acts on opioid receptors in the brain to reduce pain signals. It also prevents the reuptake of norepinephrine, which can also help reduce pain.

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
tapentadol
  • Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
  • Feeling dizzy
  • Throwing up (vomiting)
  • Feeling sleepy
tranylcypromine
  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
tapentadol
  • Death 11,543
  • Harm from drugs or chemicals 9,292
  • Took too much medicine 5,817
  • Misusing medicine 1,414
  • Need for the drug 977
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
tapentadol

Nucynta can cause addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Your doctor will check your risk before prescribing and regularly during treatment. This medicine can also cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially when you start taking it or after a dose increase. Taking Nucynta with benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Valium), alcohol, or other CNS depressants can cause sleepiness, slowed breathing, coma, and death. Accidental ingestion, especially by children, can cause a fatal overdose. If you are pregnant and use Nucynta for a long time, your baby could have withdrawal symptoms after birth.

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
tapentadol

Using Nucynta for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you are breastfeeding, monitor your baby closely for any signs of drowsiness or breathing problems.

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 tapentadol vs tranylcypromine Comparison

tapentadol is classified in the Opioid / Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor 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, tapentadol has 29,043 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 combining these can lead to a toxic level of serotonin or a sudden rise in blood pressure. both drugs increase chemicals in your system that can cause these serious side effects.. 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 tapentadol 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.