Drug interactions
Tranylcypromine + Trazodone
Severity: Contraindicated
Tranylcypromine and Trazodone: 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
Tranylcypromine is a nonselective irreversible MAO inhibitor, and adding trazodone can cause serotonin syndrome with severe hyperthermia, rigidity and autonomic instability. It can be fatal.
What this interaction means in plain words
Tranylcypromine and Trazodone 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.
Tranylcypromine belongs to Central Nervous System; Trazodone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Irreversible MAO inhibition raises serotonin while trazodone inhibits its reuptake, producing additive serotonergic excess.
What to do
Do not co-administer. Separate by at least 14 days after stopping tranylcypromine before starting trazodone, and similarly after stopping trazodone.
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 Trazodone
- Arsenic trioxide + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Levoketoconazole + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Trazodone Contraindicated
Other interactions of Tranylcypromine
- 5-HTP + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Amoxapine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Atomoxetine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Benzphetamine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Brimonidine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Tranylcypromine with Trazodone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Tranylcypromine and Trazodone 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. Tranylcypromine is a nonselective irreversible MAO inhibitor, and adding trazodone can cause serotonin syndrome with severe hyperthermia, rigidity and autonomic instability. It can be fatal.
How serious is the interaction between Tranylcypromine and Trazodone?
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 co-administer. Separate by at least 14 days after stopping tranylcypromine before starting trazodone, and similarly after stopping trazodone.
What other medicines interact with Trazodone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Trazodone with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Ibutilide, Isocarboxazid. The full list is on the Trazodone page.
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