Linezolid and Tranylcypromine Interaction
Drug interaction information between Linezolid and Tranylcypromine.
Linezolid and Tranylcypromine have a documented major interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a major-severity interaction between Linezolid and Tranylcypromine. Major interactions are generally avoided, moderate ones may need monitoring or a dose adjustment, and minor ones are usually low-risk. This page shows the documented mechanism and guidance. Label-documented interactions are not a complete safety review, so always confirm your own medications with a pharmacist or doctor. Educational information, not medical advice.
How They Interact
Both drugs act as MAO inhibitors, and using them together can cause a toxic buildup of chemicals in the brain. This can lead to a medical emergency with very high blood pressure.
What To Do
Avoid this combination unless it is an emergency and no other options exist. If used together, you must stop tranylcypromine and be monitored very closely by medical staff.
FDA Label Information
If in the absence of therapeutic alternatives and emergency treatment with a contraindicated drug (e.g., linezolid, intravenous methylene blue, direct-acting sympathomimetic drugs such as epinephrine) becomes necessary and cannot be delayed, discontinue tranylcypromine tablets as soon as possible before initiating treatment with the other agent, and monitor closely for adverse reactions. 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...
Linezolid Also Interacts With
- Citalopram major
- Escitalopram major
- Mirtazapine major
- Paroxetine major
- Safinamide major
Tranylcypromine Also Interacts With
- Bupropion major
- Vilazodone major
- Epinephrine major
- Norepinephrine major
- Phenylephrine major
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take Linezolid and Tranylcypromine together?
This is a major interaction. Avoid this combination unless it is an emergency and no other options exist. If used together, you must stop tranylcypromine and be monitored very closely by medical staff.
How serious is the interaction between Linezolid and Tranylcypromine?
This interaction is classified as "major" severity by the FDA. Major interactions may be life-threatening or cause serious side effects.
Why do Linezolid and Tranylcypromine interact?
Both drugs act as MAO inhibitors, and using them together can cause a toxic buildup of chemicals in the brain. This can lead to a medical emergency with very high blood pressure.
Understanding the Linezolid and Tranylcypromine Interaction
FDA-approved prescribing information for these two drugs flags their combination as a major-severity interaction. Linezolid belongs to the Oxazolidinone Antibiotic class and Tranylcypromine belongs to the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) class - two categories that can collide when co-prescribed. The mechanism described in FDA labeling is: Both drugs act as MAO inhibitors, and using them together can cause a toxic buildup of chemicals in the brain. Severity tiers matter: major flags generally advise avoidance, moderate flags often require monitoring or dose adjustment, and minor flags may only call for awareness.
Context around a specific patient determines real-world impact. Linezolid has 29 total documented interactions on file in this dataset, and Tranylcypromine has 42. Each additional medication compounds the interaction surface, which is why pharmacists run full-profile checks rather than evaluating one pair at a time. FDA-derived guidance for this pair is: Avoid this combination unless it is an emergency and no other options exist. Timing of doses, renal and hepatic function, age, and other concurrent prescriptions all shape whether a labeled interaction matters clinically.
An interaction flag is not a verdict. A large share of labeled interactions are managed routinely in clinical practice, the fix may be as simple as spacing doses or adding a monitoring test. Others require the prescriber to choose a different medication entirely. This page surfaces FDA-sourced labeling and openFDA data for educational purposes only; it is not medical advice and cannot account for your full clinical picture. Never start, stop, or adjust either Linezolid or Tranylcypromine based on a web page, speak with your prescriber or pharmacist before making any change.
Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider about drug interactions.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.