Drug interactions
Fentanyl transdermal + Phenelzine
Severity: Contraindicated
Fentanyl transdermal and Phenelzine: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Opioids such as fentanyl can cause severe, unpredictable reactions in patients on MAO inhibitors, including serotonin syndrome and profound CNS or respiratory depression. Labeling advises against use during and within 14 days after MAOI therapy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Fentanyl transdermal and Phenelzine are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
Serotonergic activity of fentanyl combined with MAO inhibition, plus additive CNS depression; the exact mechanism of opioid potentiation is incompletely defined.
What to do
Avoid fentanyl patches during phenelzine therapy or within 14 days of stopping it. Choose a non-serotonergic analgesic; the long patch half-life prolongs risk after removal.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Phenelzine
- 5-HTP + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Atomoxetine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Benzphetamine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Fentanyl transdermal with Phenelzine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Fentanyl transdermal and Phenelzine are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Opioids such as fentanyl can cause severe, unpredictable reactions in patients on MAO inhibitors, including serotonin syndrome and profound CNS or respiratory depression. Labeling advises against use during and within 14 days after MAOI therapy.
How serious is the interaction between Fentanyl transdermal and Phenelzine?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid fentanyl patches during phenelzine therapy or within 14 days of stopping it. Choose a non-serotonergic analgesic; the long patch half-life prolongs risk after removal.
What other medicines interact with Phenelzine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Phenelzine with, for example, 5-HTP, Amitriptyline, Amoxapine. The full list is on the Phenelzine page.
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