Nardil

 
Generic Name: phenelzine

Brands: Nardil

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What is the most important information I should know about Nardil?

· Avoid alcohol, chocolate, and all of the foods listed in the "What should I avoid while taking Nardil?" section of this leaflet. Foods high in tyramine can cause a severe reaction, including a severe headache, large pupils, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, irregular heartbeats, and chest pain. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.

· Do not take any prescription or over-the-counter medicines without the approval of your doctor. Medicines can also cause severe reactions if they are taken with Nardil.

· Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Nardil may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. If you experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities.

· Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.

· Do not stop taking this medication without the approval of your doctor.

 

What is Nardil?

· Nardil is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the class of drugs called antidepressants. It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain.

· Nardil is used to treat symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or guilt; loss of interest in daily activities; changes in appetite; tiredness; sleeping too much; insomnia; and thoughts of death or suicide.

· Nardil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

 

Who should not take Nardil?

· Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have     ·congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, or any other type of heart disease;     ·liver disease;     ·kidney disease;     ·pheochromocytoma;     ·diabetes;     ·seizures or epilepsy; or     ·thyroid problems.

· You may not be able to take Nardil, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

· Nardil is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Nardil will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

· It is not known whether Nardil will harm an nursing baby. Do not take Nardil without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

· If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from Nardil. You may require a lower dose of this medication.

 

How should I take Nardil?

· Take Nardil exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

· Take each dose with a full glass of water.

· Do not stop taking Nardil without the approval of your doctor. It may be 4 weeks or more before you begin to feel better, and you may require continuous treatment for quite some time. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking this medication.

· Store Nardil at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

 

What happens if I miss a dose?

· Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

 

What happens if I overdose?

· Seek emergency medical attention.

· Symptoms of a Nardil overdose include excitement, irritability, hyperactivity, anxiety, dizziness, fainting, weakness, insomnia, restlessness, fatigue, hallucinations, flushing, sweating, fast heartbeats, convulsions, a severe headache, coma, and death.

 

What should I avoid while taking Nardil?

· Foods that have high levels of tyramine can cause a severe reaction, including a severe headache, large pupils, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, irregular heart beats, chest pain, and death. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. Avoid the following foods:     ·cheeses, including american, blue, boursault, brick, brie, camembert, cheddar, emmenthaler, gruyere, mozzarella, parmesan, romano, roquefort, stilton, and swiss;     ·sour cream and yogurt;     ·beef or chicken liver, fish, meats prepared with tenderizer, bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, game meat, meat extracts, caviar, dried fish, herring, and shrimp paste;     ·avocados, bananas, figs, raisins, and sauerkraut;     ·soy sauce, miso soup, bean curd, fava beans;     ·yeast extracts;     ·ginseng;     ·chocolate;     ·caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, etc.); and     ·beer (alcoholic and nonalcoholic), red wine (especially Chianti), sherry, vermouth, and other distilled spirits.

· Medicines can also cause severe reactions if they are taken with Nardil. Do not take any prescription or over-the-counter medicine without the approval of your doctor.

· Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Nardil may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

· Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall.

 

What are the possible side effects of Nardil?

· If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Nardil and seek emergency medical attention:     ·an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); or     ·headache.

· Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Nardil and talk to your doctor if you experience:     ·dizziness or drowsiness;     ·tremors (shaking), weakness, or muscle twitches;     ·restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, or agitation;     ·nausea, decreased appetite, or abdominal pain;     ·diarrhea or constipation;     ·dry mouth; or     ·blurred vision.

· Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

 

What other drugs will affect Nardil?

· Nardil can increase the effects of many other drugs, leading to serious side effects. Do not take Nardil with any of the following medicines without the approval of your doctor:     ·anesthetics. Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking Nardil before you have any type of surgery. You may need to discontinue your Nardil treatment for a few weeks before receiving an anesthetic.     ·other antidepressant medicines, including venlafaxine (Effexor), amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), amoxapine (Asendin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), doxepin (Sinequan), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and others. Serious (even fatal) reactions may occur.     ·diabetes medications, including insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase), tolbutamide (Orinase), and tolazamide (Tolinase). Very low blood sugar could result.     ·sleep (and antiseizure) medicines such as phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), secobarbital (Seconal), and amobarbital (Amytal). You may need reduced doses of these medicines.     ·heart medicines such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), methyldopa (Aldomet), and reserpine (Serpasil).     ·diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, Esidrix, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, Diurigen), metolazone (Diulo, Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), chlorthalidone (Thalitone, Hygroton), and indapamide (Lozol).     ·dextromethorphan. This cough suppressant is in many prescription and over-the-counter cough and cold products.     ·levodopa (Sinemet, Larodopa, Dopar).     ·meperidine (Demerol).     ·sulfonamides such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), sulfamethoxazole (Septra, Bactrim, Gantanol), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), and others.     ·sumatriptan (Imitrex).     ·decongestants and diet aids that contain the ingredients phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, and others.     ·methylphenidate (Ritalin).

· Nardil may decrease the activity of guanethidine (Ismelin).

· Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Nardil. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

 

Where can I get more information?

· Your pharmacist has more information about Nardil written for health professionals that you may read.

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