Parnate (Tranylcypromine) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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Prescription Anxiety Medications »

What are anxiety medications and how do they work?

Anxiety is both a normal and useful response to potentially stressful or dangerous situations. It helps by increasing our awareness of what's going on around us and in other ways. For most people, the anxiety is short lived and normally goes away once the situation has passed. But that is not the case for an estimated 40 million adults in the United States who have some type of anxiety disorder and experience ongoing and unwarranted psychological distress. That distress may also manifest itself in physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, or chest pain.

Anxiety medications include multiple types of drugs that are used to treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders. The three most commonly prescribed types of anxiety medication are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications -- also known as anxiolytics -- and beta-blockers. The first two types of anxiety medications work primarily by affecting the ba...

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Parnate Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tranylcypromine (Parnate)?

Do not use this medication if you have used another MAOI such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take tranylcypromine before another MAOI has cleared from your body. If you are switching to tranylcypromine from another MAOI, your doctor may start you at a low dose.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with tranylcypromine. The following drugs should not be used while you are taking tranylcypromine:

an antidepressant;
blood pressure medicine such as guanethidine (Ismelin), methyldopa (Aldomet), and reserpine;
diet pills, stimulants, ADHD medications, over-the-counter cough and cold or allergy medicines;
doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan);
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril);
maprotiline (Ludiomil);
procarbazine (Matulane);
bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban);
venlafaxine (Effexor);
buspirone (BuSpar);
tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan);
levodopa (Larodopa, Parcopa, Sinemet); or
meperidine (Demerol, Mepergan).

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take tranylcypromine:

heart disease, high blood pressure, circulation problems, or a history of stroke;
a history of headaches (migraine, cluster, or other types);
diabetes; or
a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

This medication may be habit-forming. You may have withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, headache, weakness, depression, or hallucinations) when you stop using tranylcypromine after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before you take tranylcypromine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Tranylcypromine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from tranylcypromine.

Do not give tranylcypromine to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take tranylcypromine (Parnate)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time if you need to have any type of surgery, or if you will have an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI of your spinal cord. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking tranylcypromine.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood pressure will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. It may take 4 weeks or longer before you notice improvement in your symptoms.

Store tranylcypromine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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