Phenelzine and Venlafaxine Interaction

Drug interaction information between Phenelzine and Venlafaxine.

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

FDA drug labeling documents a moderate-severity interaction between Phenelzine and Venlafaxine. 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

Phenelzine

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)

Drug B

Venlafaxine

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI)

How They Interact

Both medications increase serotonin levels, and using them together can cause a severe reaction. This happens because the body cannot process the excess serotonin safely.

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 Phenelzine + Venlafaxine?

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 Venlafaxine's 22. In the moderate band specifically: Phenelzine has 11 (also Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Citalopram, Fluvoxamine); Venlafaxine has 2 (also Aspirin).

What mechanism field is on file for Phenelzine and Venlafaxine?

Both medications increase serotonin levels, and using them together can cause a severe reaction. This happens because the body cannot process the excess serotonin safely.

Phenelzine's labeled portfolio outnumbers Venlafaxine

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

Phenelzine

0 major · 11 moderate · 16 minor · 27 total

Venlafaxine

0 major · 2 moderate · 20 minor · 22 total

  • Other moderate peers for Venlafaxine
  • Aspirin

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.