Parnate works by increasing the concentration of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, thereby relieving the symptoms of depression.

Dosage

Suggested initial adult dosage is 10 mg twice daily (morning and afternoon). If no response in 2 to 3 weeks increase to 30 mg daily, 20 mg on arising and 10 mg in afternoon. Continue for at least a week. If no improvement occurs, continued administration is unlikely to be beneficial.

When Will My Medication Start to Work?

Usually, it takes a person taking Parnate within 48 hours to three weeks in order to achieve the full beneficial effects. The medication may take longer to produce full effects depending on the prescribed dosage and varies from person to person.

Any Other Important Information?

If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, discuss the potential risks of this or any medication with your doctor.

If you are taking Parnate, you will need to know about some important dietary restrictions. Disregarding the dietary restrictions may lead to hypertensive crisis, which includes headaches, stiff neck, sweating, nausea, vomiting or much worse.

Do not stop taking Parnate suddenly as there can be complications involved with abrupt withdrawal.

What are the Side Effects?

Remember that only some people will experience side effects and that no one experiences side effects in exactly the same way. If you experience any side effects, contact your doctor or clinician right away and continue taking your medication. The following list may not contain all of the side effects associated with this medication.

Most common side effects:

dizziness, hypotension, anorexia,nausea, drowsiness, high blood pressure(hypertension)

Infrequent side effects:

weakness, headache, blurred vision, sexual problems, skin problems, tremors, dry mouth,
tinnitus, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, chills, edema

Rare side effects:

Risks agranulocytosis (an acute deficit of certain blood cells),
thrombocytopenia (a reduction in the number of
platelets in the blood, which results in the bleeding into the skin)

Overdose Symptoms

Characteristic symptoms are similar to those described under Adverse Effects; however, these effects may be intensified and severe additional manifestations may be seen, depending on the degree of overdosage. Some patients exhibit insomnia, restlessness and anxiety, progressing in severe cases to agitation, mental confusion and incoherence. Hypotension, dizziness, weakness and drowsiness may occur, progressing in severe cases to extreme dizziness and shock. A few patients have displayed hypertension with severe headache and other symptoms. Rare instances have been reported in which hypertension was accompanied by twitching or myoclonic fibrillation of skeletal muscles with hyperpyrexia, sometimes progressing to generalized rigidity and coma.

Are there any Drug Interactions?

Remember, always follow your physician's recommendations on how to take your medication. Even if you are taking one of the following substances, continue taking your medication as prescribed and consult your physician. Also, if you are taking any herbal remedies, vitamins, and/or over-the-counter medications, be sure to tell your physician. The following section offers some, but not necessarily all, of the possible drug interactions. Many different types of medications, food, and beverages should not be taken with a MAO Inhibitor such as Parnate. The following is a list of substances, that when combined with MAO Inhibitors, could lead to adverse interactions, even fatal ones: Any MAO Inhibitors, amphetamines, any narcotics (opium, heroin, etc.), alcohol, SSRIs, TCAs, antihypertensives, diuretics, antihistamines, Wellbutrin(bupropion HCL), Buspar(buspirone), dextromethorphan HCL, Demerol(meperidine), or excessive amounts of caffeine.

Here is a list of the foods/beverages that should not be consumed when taking Parnate:

Aged cheese (cream cheese and cottage cheese are okay), alcohol (especially beer and wine), avocados, bananas, beef or chicken liver, caffeinated beverages, canned meats, chocolate, dry, sausages, eggplant, fava beans, figs, gravies that are preprocessed, green bean pods, homemade breads, Italian broad beans, liver, orange pulp, pickled or smoked fish, poultry or meats, raisins, red plums, salami, soups (packaged or soup cubes), sour cream, soy sauce, spinach, tomatoes, and yogurt.