Drug interactions
Phenelzine + Sertraline
Severity: Contraindicated
Phenelzine and Sertraline: 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
Giving sertraline with the nonselective MAO inhibitor phenelzine can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome. Features include hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, myoclonus, autonomic instability and altered mental status.
What this interaction means in plain words
Phenelzine and Sertraline 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.
Phenelzine belongs to Central Nervous System; Sertraline belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Serotonin reuptake inhibition combined with irreversible MAO inhibition causes excessive synaptic serotonin.
What to do
Do not coadminister. Wait at least 14 days after stopping phenelzine before starting sertraline, and at least 14 days after stopping sertraline before starting phenelzine.
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 Sertraline
- Isocarboxazid + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Selegiline transdermal + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Selegiline + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Sertraline + Thioridazine Contraindicated
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 Phenelzine with Sertraline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Phenelzine and Sertraline 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. Giving sertraline with the nonselective MAO inhibitor phenelzine can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome. Features include hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, myoclonus, autonomic instability and altered mental status.
How serious is the interaction between Phenelzine and Sertraline?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not coadminister. Wait at least 14 days after stopping phenelzine before starting sertraline, and at least 14 days after stopping sertraline before starting phenelzine.
What other medicines interact with Sertraline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sertraline with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue, Pimozide. The full list is on the Sertraline page.
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