Nardil (Phenelzine) Addiction and Abuse

What Is Nardil (Phenelzine)?

Nardil is a prescription medication used for treating symptoms of depression, such as anxiety, fear, sadness or worry about one’s physical health (hypochondria). It works by raising the levels of specific chemicals in the brain. Nardil is the brand name for the substance phenelzine.

Phenelzine is an irreversible and non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor from the hydrazine class. While used for treating symptoms of depression, this medication is ineffective against bipolar disorder, severe depression or manic depression.

While the medication is used for individuals in many circumstances, it is often used at rehabilitation facilities to help prevent depression and suicidal thoughts.

How Is Nardil (Phenelzine) Used?

Typically, Nardil is prescribed after other anti-depressants have failed to alleviate the patient’s symptoms. It treats depression by helping to restore the balance of natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Phenelzine helps improve a person’s feelings of well-being and overall mood.

The initial dose of Nardil that most doctors prescribe is one 15 mg tablet taken three times daily. During the early phases of treatment, dosage may be increased to between 60 mg and 90 mg per day, depending on the individual’s tolerance. Once an individual reaches the maximum benefit from Nardil, doctors typically reduce it slowly over a period of several weeks, eventually reducing treatment to one tablet per day.

Typically, this medication takes four weeks to reach full effectiveness in a patient.

The Nardil (phenelzine) pill is available in tablet form, orange in color, film-coated and biconvex. It is also engraved with “P-D 270.”

It is important to take Nardil exactly as prescribed. Treatment programs can require a patient’s blood pressure to be checked regularly. If an improvement in symptoms isn’t visible within a few weeks, the dosage amount may have to be adjusted.

Nardil (Phenelzine) Addiction

Antidepressants, such as Nardil, are often used for treating those with substance use disorders. Unfortunately, if patients aren’t careful, the prescription medication itself can lead to the psychological disease of addiction.

There’s an increased risk of this mental disorder for anyone who misuses a prescription, which is, unfortunately, a common occurrence. In fact, up to 52 million people have misused prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes at least once in their life, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Intense mental reliance upon Nardil may also occur when a person ingests it in a manner that was not recommended. This includes crushing and snorting the medication or using it along with other substances, such as opioids, stimulants or alcohol.

The Importance of Aftercare

The risk of future use of antidepressants such as Nardil is high, especially if further treatment isn’t sought. Even though the recurrence of use is common, it isn’t inevitable and doesn’t indicate a failure of treatment. In many cases, it’s only an indication that the treatment plan needs to be adjusted.

Having a strong aftercare program is imperative to fight against the possibility of recurrence of use. With proper support and ongoing care, patients are placed in the best position to avoid this issue.

If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, or who know someone who is having issues with drugs and other substances, don’t wait to reach out for help. At The Recovery Village, we are available to provide help and insight 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.