Drug interactions
Tranylcypromine + Venlafaxine
Severity: Contraindicated
Tranylcypromine and Venlafaxine: 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
Venlafaxine with tranylcypromine can cause fatal serotonin syndrome and hypertensive crisis. It is a labeled contraindication.
What this interaction means in plain words
Tranylcypromine and Venlafaxine 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; Venlafaxine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Irreversible MAO inhibition combined with serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibition causes massive monoamine excess.
What to do
Never coadminister. Wait at least 14 days after stopping tranylcypromine before starting venlafaxine, and at least 7 days after stopping venlafaxine before starting tranylcypromine.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Tranylcypromine and Venlafaxine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Venlafaxine
- Isocarboxazid + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Safinamide + Venlafaxine 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 Venlafaxine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Tranylcypromine and Venlafaxine 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. Venlafaxine with tranylcypromine can cause fatal serotonin syndrome and hypertensive crisis. It is a labeled contraindication.
How serious is the interaction between Tranylcypromine and Venlafaxine?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Never coadminister. Wait at least 14 days after stopping tranylcypromine before starting venlafaxine, and at least 7 days after stopping venlafaxine before starting tranylcypromine.
What other medicines interact with Venlafaxine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Venlafaxine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Venlafaxine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.