Isocarboxazid (Marplan)

You should not take isocarboxazid if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• a history of stroke or blood clots;
• heart disease, high blood pressure; or
• a history of severe or frequent headaches.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems or death if you take them together with isocarboxazid.

Before taking isocarboxazid, tell your doctor about all medicines you have used within the past 5 weeks. The following drugs should not be used while you are taking isocarboxazid:

• buspirone (Buspar);
• carbamazepine;
• levodopa;
• methyldopa;
• tryptophan;
• certain antidepressants--amitriptylline, bupropion, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, paroxetine, protriptyline, sertraline, trimipramine (known by brand names such as Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Norpramin, Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Zoloft);
• narcotic pain medicine--morphine, tramadol, Demerol, OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, and others;
• ADHD medicine--Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Vyvanse, and others;
• diet pills; or
• over-the-counter cough or cold medicine.

Do not use isocarboxazid if you have used another MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

To make sure isocarboxazid is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a history of heart disease or high blood pressure;
• diabetes;
• a thyroid disorder;
• schizophrenia;
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
• if you have taken any other antidepressant within the past 5 weeks.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using isocarboxazid. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether isocarboxazid will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether isocarboxazid passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give isocarboxazid to anyone younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.