Isocarboxazid is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) that works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain.

Isocarboxazid is used to treat symptoms of depression that may include anxiety, panic, or phobias. This medication is usually given after other antidepressants have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious or life-threatening medical problems if you take them together with isocarboxazid. Do not take isocarboxazid before telling your doctor about all other prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, including:

• vitamins
• minerals
• herbal products

Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor, dentist, or other healthcare provider who treats you.

You may have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior at the start of treatment with an antidepressant medication, especially if you are under 18 years old. While you are taking this medication you will need to be monitored for worsening symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts during the first weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse:

• mood changes
• anxiety
• panic attacks
• trouble sleeping
• irritability
• agitation
• aggressiveness
• severe restlessness
• mania (mental and/ or physical hyperactivity)
• thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself

While you are taking isocarboxazid, you must not drink alcohol or eat foods that are high in tyramine. Eating tyramine while you are taking isocarboxazid can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Stop taking isocarboxazid and call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms:

• sudden and severe headache
• rapid heartbeat
• stiffness in your neck
• nausea
• vomiting
• cold sweat
• vision problems
• sensitivity to light

You should become very familiar with the list of foods and medicines you must avoid while you are taking isocarboxazid.

Isocarboxazid can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

FOODS TO AVOID:

• cheese (especially strong or aged cheeses)
• sour cream
• beer (including non-alcoholic beer)
• sherry
• Chianti wine
• liquers
• dry sausage (such as hard salami, pepperoni)
• anchovies
• caviar
• liver
• pickled herring
• canned figs
• raisins
• bananas
• avocados
• chocolate or caffeine
• soy sauce
• sauerkraut
• fava beans
• yeast extracts
• yogurt
• meat extracts
• meat prepared with tenderizer
• over-the-counter supplements, cough and cold medicines with dextromethorphan or tyramine

You should become very familiar with the list of foods and medicines you must avoid while you are taking isocarboxazid. Eating tyramine while you are taking isocarboxazid can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels which could cause life-threatening side effects.

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 directions 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.

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 up to 6 weeks or longer before you notice improvement in your symptoms.

Do not use this medication if you have used another MAOI such as:

• phenelzine (Nardil)
• rasagiline (Azilect)
• selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam)
• tranylcypromine (Parnate)

within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take isocarboxazid before another MAOI has cleared from your body.

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to isocarboxazid, or if you have:

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

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

• diet pills
• caffeine, stimulants
• ADHD medication
• asthma medication
• over-the-counter cough and cold or allergy medicines
• blood pressure medication
• diuretics (water pills)
• bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban)
• buspirone (BuSpar)
• carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol)
• furazolidone (Furoxone)
• meperidine (Demerol, Mepergan)
• pargyline (Eutonyl)
• procarbazine (Matulane)
• alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy
• amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon)
• amoxapine (Ascendin)
• clomipramine (Anafranil)
• desipramine (Norpramin)
• doxepin (Adepin, Sinequan)
• imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil)
• nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• protriptyline (Vivactil)
• trimipramine (Surmontil)
• citalopram (Celexa)
• escitalopram (Lexapro)
• fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• paroxetine (Paxil)
• sertraline (Zoloft)

Before taking isocarboxazid, tell your doctor if you have:

• high blood pressure, heart disease
• diabetes
• liver or kidney disease
• a thyroid disorder
• schizophrenia
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• if you have taken another antidepressant within the past 5 weeks
• tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan)
• guanethidine (Ismelin)
• levodopa (Larodopa, Parcopa, Sinemet)
• methyldopa (Aldomet)

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use isocarboxazid, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

You may have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior at the start of treatment with an antidepressant medication, especially if you are under 18 years old. While you are taking isocarboxazid you will need to be monitored for worsening symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts during the first weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed. In addition to you watching for changes in your own symptoms, your family or other caregivers should 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.

Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse:

• mood changes
• anxiety
• panic attacks
• trouble sleeping
• irritability
• agitation
• aggressiveness
• severe restlessness
• mania (mental and/ or physical hyperactivity)
• thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether isocarboxazid passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Isocarboxazid should not be given to a child younger than 16 years old.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of imipramine can be fatal.

Symptoms of an isocarboxazid overdose may include:

• shallow breathing
• fast heart rate
• sweating
• fever
• sweating
• slow reflexes
• light-headed
• fainting
• seizure (convulsions)

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:

• hives
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• sudden and severe headache
• rapid heartbeat
• stiffness in your neck
• nausea
• vomiting
• cold sweat
• sweating
• vision problems
• sensitivity to light
• chest pain, fast or slow heart rate
• swelling, rapid weight gain
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• agitation, unusual thoughts or behavior
• feeling light-headed, fainting

Continue taking this medication and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• dizziness, headache
• tremors or shaking
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• constipation,nausea
• dry mouth

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.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious or life-threatening medical problems if you take them together with isocarboxazid. Do not take isocarboxazid before telling your doctor about all other prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes:

• vitamins
• minerals
• herbal products
• drugs prescribed by other doctors

Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor, dentist, or other healthcare provider who treats you.