What Is Phenelzine Used For?

What is phenelzine used for? The prescription drug is primarily used for treating depression in adults. Since it has not been studied extensively in people under the age of 18, it is not approved for use in children and teenagers. Occasionally, phenelzine is used for off-label reasons, such as the treatment of selective mutism, a childhood disorder involving the inability to speak in certain situations.

 

What Is Phenelzine Used For? -- An Overview

 Phenelzine sulfate (Nardil®) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression).
 
Depression is more than just "feeling sad." Common symptoms of depression include:
 
  • Changes in sleep (sleeping too much or not enough)
  • Eating too much or too little (and weight gain or weight loss)
  • Having little interest in things that you used to enjoy
  • Physical pain
  • Feeling hopeless or worthless
  • Suicidal thoughts.
     
Phenelzine has been proven in large clinical trials to help adults with depression. However, due to many potentially lethal food and drug interactions, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (including phenelzine) are usually used only as a last resort in severe depression, when other options have failed. In order to use this medication safely, you must commit to following a strict diet (see Nardil Food Interactions) and to avoid many (if not most) medications, including over-the-counter products (see Drug Interactions With Phenelzine).
 
Counseling and therapy (see Psychotherapy for Depression) are often used along with antidepressant medications to treat depression. Ask your healthcare provider if either of these would be good options for you (see Depression Treatment).
 
(What Is Phenelzine Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;