Phenelzine (Nardil)
Irreversible, non-selective monoamine oxidase (MAO-A and MAO-B) inhibitor of the hydrazine class. Despite a short plasma half-life (~11 h), the covalent irreversible inactivation of MAO produces a pharmacodynamic effect lasting 2-3 weeks (time required for de novo enzyme synthesis). Particularly effective in atypical depression and treatment-resistant anxiety disorders including social phobia. Carries SERIOUS risks of serotonin syndrome (with serotonergic drugs) and hypertensive crisis (with dietary tyramine) that mandate a 2-week washout period between MAOI discontinuation and SSRI initiation, and lifelong avoidance of tyramine-rich foods and sympathomimetics.
Projected serum levels — 45 mg, once daily
Maintenance schedule: 45 mg once daily (oral).
Loading schedule: 58.7 mg on day 1, then 45 mg once daily — reaching therapeutic levels sooner.
Modeled steady state after ~1 days: peak ≈ 46.3 mg, trough ≈ 12.4 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a 45 mg dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.
Key facts
- Category
- MAOI Antidepressant
- Route modeled
- Oral
- Model confidence
- inferred
- Half-life
- 11 h
- Common dose
- 45 mg
- Suggested maximum
- 90 mg/day
- Reference dose range
- 15–90 mg (single dose)
- Suggested cadence
- once daily
- Validated against
- 45 mg oral — Cmax 0.030 mg/L at 1.5 h
Documented interactions
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danger
1P-LSD (1-Propionyl-LSD) + Phenelzine (Nardil)
1P-LSD (1-Propionyl-LSD) and Phenelzine (Nardil) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).
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danger
25I-NBOMe + Phenelzine (Nardil)
25I-NBOMe and Phenelzine (Nardil) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).
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danger
2C-I (2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine) + Phenelzine (Nardil)
2C-I (2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine) and Phenelzine (Nardil) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).
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danger
2C-B (4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) + Phenelzine (Nardil)
2C-B (4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) and Phenelzine (Nardil) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).
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danger
3-MeO-PCP (3-Methoxyphencyclidine) + Phenelzine (Nardil)
3-MeO-PCP (3-Methoxyphencyclidine) and Phenelzine (Nardil) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).
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danger
4-AcO-DMT (Psilacetin) + Phenelzine (Nardil)
4-AcO-DMT (Psilacetin) and Phenelzine (Nardil) both have serotonergic activity. Risk of serotonin syndrome (hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, altered mental status).
Serum checks 120 modeled interaction pairings for phenelzine (nardil) across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.
Research behind this entry
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The monoamine oxidase inhibitor, phenelzine, in the treatment of depressive-anxiety states: a controlled clinical trial
Landmark controlled trial demonstrating phenelzine's statistically significant superiority over placebo in treating depressive-anxiety states, establishing the clinical efficacy profile that would define MAOI use in…
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Phenelzine vs atenolol in social phobia: a placebo-controlled comparison
Pivotal RCT demonstrating phenelzine's marked superiority over both atenolol and placebo for social phobia (social anxiety disorder), with 64% response rate versus 23% placebo, establishing MAOIs as the gold-standard…
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Dietary restrictions and drug interactions with monoamine oxidase inhibitors: an update
Authoritative clinical review of MAOI dietary and drug interactions, codifying the tyramine-restricted diet, serotonin syndrome risk with co-administered serotonergic agents, and the 2-week SSRI washout requirement that…
3 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.