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

What is isocarboxazid?

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.

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

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking isocarboxazid?

• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);

• a history of stroke or blood clots;

• liver disease;

• kidney disease;

• heart disease;

• high blood pressure; or

• a 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); or

• carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);

• furazolidone (Furoxone);

• meperidine (Demerol, Mepergan);

• pargyline (Eutonyl);

• procarbazine (Matulane);

• alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety).

• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adepin, Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil); or

• antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or 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; or

• if you are also taking tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan), guanethidine (Ismelin), levodopa (Larodopa, Parcopa, Sinemet), or 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 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.