Citalopram and Phenelzine Interaction

Drug interaction information between Citalopram and Phenelzine.

Citalopram and Phenelzine have a documented moderate interaction in FDA labeling.

FDA drug labeling documents a moderate-severity interaction between Citalopram and Phenelzine. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.

Drug A

Citalopram

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)

Drug B

Phenelzine

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)

How They Interact

Combining these drugs can cause too much serotonin to build up in your system. This can lead to very serious side effects that may be fatal.

FDA Label Information

Drug Interactions In patients receiving nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors in combination with serotoninergic agents (e.g., dexfenfluramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, venlafaxine) there have been reports of serious, sometimes fatal, reactions.

Phenelzine Also Interacts With

View all Phenelzine interactions →

Frequently Asked Questions

What SPL severity band is on file for Citalopram + Phenelzine?

Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair moderate. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.

Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?

Phenelzine has 27 labeled pairs on file vs Citalopram's 9. In the moderate band specifically: Citalopram has 2 (also Warfarin); Phenelzine has 11 (also Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Venlafaxine, Fluvoxamine).

What mechanism field is on file for Citalopram and Phenelzine?

Combining these drugs can cause too much serotonin to build up in your system. This can lead to very serious side effects that may be fatal.

Citalopram carries more major-labeled pairs than Phenelzine

SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is moderate · classes on file: Citalopram (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)); Phenelzine (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)).

Citalopram has 3 major-labeled pairs vs Phenelzine's 0. This page itself is in the moderate band, not the major band.

Citalopram

3 major · 2 moderate · 4 minor · 9 total

  • Other moderate peers for Citalopram
  • Warfarin
Phenelzine

0 major · 11 moderate · 16 minor · 27 total

Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.