Parnate Withdrawal & Tapering Guide
tranylcypromine
Boxed Warning
Suicidality risk in children, adolescents, and young adults under 25 during initial antidepressant treatment.
In short
Parnate (tranylcypromine) is an MAOI with a half-life of ~2.5 hours (drug); MAO inhibition persists 1-2 weeks after last dose. Slow taper. Withdrawal symptoms, when they occur, usually begin 1-3 days after stopping and settle within 3-6 weeks.
- Class
- MAOI
- Half-life
- ~2.5 hours (drug); MAO inhibition persists 1-2 weeks after last dose
- Common doses
- 10mg tablets
- Withdrawal onset
- 1-3 days after stopping
- Typical resolution
- 3-6 weeks
Educational reference only. Dose changes are decided with the prescriber who knows your history.
Overview
Tranylcypromine is a non-selective irreversible MAOI structurally related to amphetamine, giving it a faster onset and mild stimulating quality compared with phenelzine. Same dietary and drug-interaction restrictions.
10mg tablets
Tablets: 10mg
Category C
Mechanism of Action
Irreversible inhibition of MAO-A and MAO-B; mild releasing effect on monoamines via amphetamine-like structure.
Taper Notes
Slow taper. Some members report mild stimulant-like withdrawal (fatigue, low motivation) given the amphetamine-related structure.
Hyperbolic Tapering Guidance
Same washout requirements as other irreversible MAOIs. Mild dependence-like features are reported but uncommon.
Summary written by TaperCommunity, informed by the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines (Horowitz & Taylor) and related literature — see Sources & References below. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Maudsley.
Withdrawal Timeline
1-3 days after stopping
1-2 weeks
3-6 weeks
Mood and energy can take 1-2 months to stabilize
Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Interactions & Safety
Drug Interactions
- Same comprehensive list as phenelzine — see Nardil. Particularly dangerous with stimulants and decongestants given the amphetamine-like structure.
Contraindications
- Same as phenelzine
Toxicity
Same as phenelzine: tyramine-induced hypertensive crisis, serotonin syndrome, sympathomimetic interactions.
Pharmacokinetics
ADME Profile
Hepatic.
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Other Drug Profiles
The arithmetic of a proportional reduction
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines and NICE NG222 describe reducing MAOI medications by a proportion of the previous dose rather than by a fixed amount, so each cut is smaller than the last. The table shows what that arithmetic produces at 10% per step, using 10 mg only as a worked example. How large each step is, how long it is held, and whether this pattern applies at all are decisions for the person and their prescriber.
| Step | % of starting dose | Worked example (10 mg start) |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 100% | 10 mg |
| Step 1 | 90% | 9 mg |
| Step 2 | 81% | 8.1 mg |
| Step 3 | 73% | 7.29 mg |
| Step 4 | 66% | 6.56 mg |
| Step 5 | 59% | 5.9 mg |
| Step 6 | 53% | 5.31 mg |
| Step 7 | 48% | 4.78 mg |
| Step 8 | 43% | 4.3 mg |
This is an illustration of a published method, not a schedule for anyone. It does not account for how long you have taken Parnate, your current dose, formulation, or history. TaperCommunity does not recommend doses or dose changes; those are agreed with your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions about Parnate
What are the withdrawal symptoms of Parnate (tranylcypromine)?
Common withdrawal symptoms of Parnate (tranylcypromine) include: rebound depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, agitation, craving (because of amphetamine-like effects), akathisia. Symptom severity varies by individual, dose, and duration of use.
How should I taper off Parnate (tranylcypromine)?
Slow taper. Some members report mild stimulant-like withdrawal (fatigue, low motivation) given the amphetamine-related structure. Same washout requirements as other irreversible MAOIs. Mild dependence-like features are reported but uncommon.
How long does Parnate withdrawal last?
Parnate withdrawal typically begins 1-3 days after stopping, peaks around 1-2 weeks, and resolves within 3-6 weeks. Mood and energy can take 1-2 months to stabilize
Can I stop Parnate cold turkey?
Stopping Parnate abruptly is not recommended. Its half-life is ~2.5 hours (drug); MAO inhibition persists 1-2 weeks after last dose, and the receptor adaptations built up during treatment do not reverse at that speed, so a sudden stop tends to produce the sharpest withdrawal. Prescribing guidance favours gradual, proportional reductions agreed with your prescriber.
How long does Parnate stay in your system?
Parnate (tranylcypromine) has a half-life of ~2.5 hours (drug); MAO inhibition persists 1-2 weeks after last dose. As a rule of thumb, a drug is mostly cleared after about five half-lives. Withdrawal symptoms often begin before the drug has fully cleared and continue after it has, because the adaptations the brain made during treatment reverse more slowly than the drug leaves the blood.
Sources & References
Parnate (tranylcypromine) information on this page is sourced from peer-reviewed research, regulatory bodies, clinical guidelines, and patient-advocacy organizations.
Encyclopedic & chemical databases
Neutral, high-authority entity references.
Regulatory sources
Official prescribing information and safety notices.
Peer-reviewed research
Primary literature cited in this taper guide.
- Horowitz MA, Taylor D 2019 — Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms (hyperbolic taper) (The Lancet Psychiatry)
- Davies J, Read J 2019 — A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects (Addictive Behaviors)
- Framer A 2021 — The patient voice: an exploration of the experience of withdrawal from antidepressants (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology)
Clinical guidelines
Evidence-based deprescribing and prescribing standards.
Deprescribing-specific resources
Clinician-facing references on tapering protocols.
- Deprescribing.org — Evidence-based deprescribing algorithms from the Bruyère Research Institute
- Royal College of Psychiatrists — Stopping antidepressants — UK clinical guidance on safely discontinuing antidepressants
Patient-advocacy & lived-experience
Long-running communities documenting withdrawal experience.
- Surviving Antidepressants — tapering forum — Long-running community archive of antidepressant taper experiences
- Inner Compass Initiative — Withdrawal Project — Peer-led resources for psychiatric drug withdrawal
- Mad in America — antidepressant withdrawal archive — Journalism and personal narratives on SSRI/SNRI discontinuation
- RxISK — adverse drug reaction reporting — Independent database of patient-reported adverse effects
TaperCommunity does not provide medical advice. Always consult a qualified prescriber before adjusting psychiatric medication.