PARNATE® TABLETS (Tranylcypromine 10 mg) Consumer Medicine Information WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET Do not take Parnate and talk to your Do not give this medicine to anyone else. doctor if you have taken any other Your doctor has prescribed it specifically for This leaflet answers some of the common medicines for the treatment of depression you and your condition. questions about Parnate. It does not contain or anxiety within the last 5 weeks and If you are not sure whether you should all the available information. It does not take have not discussed this with your doctor. start taking this medicine, talk to your the place of talking to your doctor or This includes: doctor. pharmacist. • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Before you start to take it All medicines have risks and benefits. Your (SSRIs), e.g. fluoxetine, paroxetine, Tell your doctor if you have allergies to doctor has weighed the risks of you taking sertraline Parnate against the benefits they expect it any other medicines, foods, preservatives • Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake will have for you. or dyes. Inhibitors (SNRIs), e.g. venlafaxine If you have any concerns about taking this Tell your doctor if you have or have had • tricyclic antidepressants, e.g. medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. any of the following medical conditions: clomipramine, imipramine, • diabetes Keep this leaflet with the medicine. amitriptyline, desipramine, dosulepin You may need to read it again. (dothiepin), nortriptyline, trimipramine • epilepsy (condition where you have or doxepin repeated fits or convulsions) WHAT PARNATE IS USED FOR • buspirone hydrochloride • angina (chest pain) Parnate is used to treat symptoms of Do not take Parnate and talk to your • kidney problems depression, especially if treatment with other doctor if: • addiction to drugs or alcohol types of antidepressants has failed. There are • you are taking, or being treated with, any • angle-closure glaucoma (sudden rise in many different types of medicines used to of the following: intra-ocular pressure) treat depression. Parnate belongs to a group - appetite suppressants such as • sugar intolerance. of medicines called monoamine oxidase fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine, Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants. It contains phentermine (e.g. Duromine), mazindol the active ingredient tranylcypromine. are planning to have any type of surgery. or diethylpropion for weight loss Parnate may interfere with some medicines Depression is longer lasting or more severe - amphetamines, phenylpropanolamine used during surgery. than the ‘low moods’ that everyone has from or other central nervous system time to time. It is thought to be caused by a stimulants Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or chemical imbalance in parts of the brain. The - cold or hayfever medicines, including plan to become pregnant. imbalance affects your whole body and can nose drops or sprays Your doctor will discuss the risks and cause emotional and physical symptoms. - dextromethorphan, contained in many benefits of using Parnate if you are pregnant. You may feel low in spirit, lose interest in cough and cold medicines you can buy If you take this medicine during the last three usual activities, be unable to enjoy life, have without a prescription months of your pregnancy, the general poor appetite or overeat, have disturbed - methyldopa, dopamine, ephedrine or condition of your newborn baby might be sleep, often waking up early, low energy and any other medicine that affects blood affected. feel guilty over nothing. pressure Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding Parnate corrects the chemical imbalance and - strong pain killers, e.g. pethidine, or planning to breastfeed. helps relieve the symptoms of depression. It codeine, nefopam Your doctor will discuss the risks and is not recommended for the ‘low moods’ that - levodopa (e.g. Madopar or Sinemet) benefits involved. It is not recommended that everyone has from time to time due to the for Parkinson’s disease you breastfeed while taking Parnate as it stress or sadness of everyday life. - carbamazepine, used to treat epilepsy, passes into breast milk. Your doctor may have prescribed Parnate for nerve pain, mania or bipolar disease Taking other medicines another use. - bupropion, used to help stop smoking Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are - tryptophan, a dietary supplement to Ask your doctor if you have questions taking any other medicines, including any treat depression or anxiety or help you about why Parnate has been prescribed that you get without a prescription from sleep for you. your pharmacy, supermarket or health • you have or have had any of these Parnate is available only with a doctor’s food shop. medical conditions: prescription. Some medicines and Parnate may interfere - a stroke, poor blood flow to the brain, with each other. or frequent headaches BEFORE YOU TAKE PARNATE Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are - heart disease or high blood pressure taking any of the following: When you must not take it - liver disease - hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid • any medicine listed under ‘When you Do not take Parnate if you have an allergy gland) must not take it’ to: - blood or bone marrow disorder • guanethidine, reserpine or any other • Parnate or any other medicine containing - porphyria, a rare blood pigment medicine that affects blood pressure tranylcypromine disorder • sedatives, medicines to help you sleep, • any of the ingredients listed at the end of - phaeochromocytoma, an adrenaline reduce anxiety or induce anaesthesia this leaflet. (epinephrine) producing tumour of the • anticholinergic medicines, e.g. atropine, Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction adrenal gland which are used to treat a range of may include: • you are over 60 years of age. medical conditions • shortness of breath Do not give Parnate to children and • medicines used to treat Parkinson’s • wheezing or difficulty breathing adolescents under 18 years of age. Disease • swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other The safety of Parnate in this age group has • medicines used to treat diabetes not been established. parts of the body • medicines used to treat epilepsy Do not take this medicine after the expiry • rash, itching or hives on the skin. • anticoagulants, used to treat blood date printed on the pack or if the Do not take Parnate if you have taken it or clotting disorders packaging is torn or shows signs of any other MAOI medication (e.g. phenelzine, tampering. • antihistamines, used to treat allergies moclobemide, furazolidone, iproniazid, If it has expired or is damaged, return it to • metrizamide, a contrast medium used in isocarboxazid, nialamide, pargyline, your pharmacist for disposal. medical imaging. procarbazine hydrochloride) before and became unwell. Tell your doctor or These medicines may be affected by Parnate pharmacist before taking the first dose. or may affect how well it works. You may PARNATE® TABLETS Published by MIMS May 2020 1 need different amounts of your medicines, or you were taking it and stopped less than Things to be careful of you may need to take different medicines. two weeks ago. Watch carefully for signs that your Your doctor will advise you. This applies to medicines that you buy depression or anxiety is getting worse, Your doctor and pharmacist have more without a prescription as well as prescription especially in the first few weeks of information on medicines to be careful with medicines. treatment. or avoid while taking Parnate. Tell any other doctors, dentists, and Tell your doctor immediately if you pharmacists who treat you that you are experience any of the following symptoms, HOW TO TAKE PARNATE taking this medicine. especially if they are severe, you have not Follow all directions given to you by your If you are going to have surgery or had these symptoms before or they doctor or pharmacist carefully. emergency treatment, tell your doctor or happen very suddenly: They may differ from the information dentist that you are taking Parnate or • anxiety or agitation have used it in the last two weeks. contained in this leaflet. • panic attacks It may affect other medicines used during If you do not understand the instructions surgery. • difficulty sleeping on the pack, ask your doctor or • hostility or impulsiveness pharmacist for help. Carry an alert card or wear an SOS bracelet, which tells the doctor, dentist or • restlessness How much to take pharmacist you are taking Parnate. • overactive or uninhibited behaviour The usual dose of Parnate is one 10 mg tablet These are helpful if you are in an accident • thoughts of suicide. taken twice a day. and cannot talk. Tell your doctor immediately if you have How to take it You must avoid certain foods and drinks any thoughts about suicide or doing harm Swallow Parnate tablet(s) whole with a full during treatment with Parnate and for at to yourself. glass of water or another liquid. Do not chew least a week after stopping therapy. All thoughts or talk about suicide or violence the tablets. Avoid protein foods that have been aged are serious. The risk is increased in young When to take it or fermented to improve flavour. Also adults aged 18 - 24 years. Improvement may avoid any foods that have caused you not occur during the initial treatment period Parnate tablets are usually taken in the unpleasant reactions previously. morning and at midday. Take the last dose of (usually one to two months). the day not later than 3 pm. This will help While taking Parnate, you should avoid: If you or someone you know is showing avoid sleep disturbances. • matured cheese the following warning signs, either contact How long to take it • meat, fish, poultry, pate or yoghurt that your doctor or a mental health advisor is stale or smells “off” right away or go to the nearest hospital for For depression, the length of treatment will treatment: depend on how quickly your symptoms • protein extracts such as Marmite, • thoughts or talk about death or suicide improve.