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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.

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What are the possible side effects of isocarboxazid?

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 new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Stop using isocarboxazid and 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); or

• 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;

• constipation,nausea; or

• 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.

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How should I take isocarboxazid?
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.

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What is the most important information I should know about isocarboxazid?
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, and 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 thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect isocarboxazid?
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, and 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.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Isocarboxazid has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have not been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Isocarboxazid is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

The Collaborative Perinatal Project monitored 21 mother-child pairs exposed to monoamine oxidase inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy; one of which was exposed to isocarboxazid. An increased risk of malformation was observed, however details were not given.

There are no data on the excretion of isocarboxazid into human milk. The effects in the nursing infant are unknown. The manufacturer recommends that isocarboxazid be used in nursing women only if clearly needed.

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What does my medication look like?
Isocarboxazid is available with a prescription under the brand name Marplan. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Marplan 10 mg--peach colored tablets

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an isocarboxazid overdose may include shallow breathing, fast heart rate, sweating, fever, slow reflexes, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

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What should I discuss with my doctor before taking isocarboxazid?
Do not use this medication if you have used another MAOI such as phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or 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); a history of stroke or blood clots; liver disease;

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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