The short answer. There isn't much data on Phenelzine yet — 6 mentions, 4 with a clear outcome — so treat these numbers as anecdotal. It is well studied — 30 meta-analyses on PubMed.
From 6 mentions in total — the rest didn't say how it went and aren't counted.
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: Numerous interactions between herbal medicines and conventional drugs have been documented. While the significance of many interactions is uncertain, several interactions, particularly those with St John's wort, may have serious clinical consequences.
PubMed 19719333 ↗Conclusion: Some assumptions, such as the inclusion of open-label studies or differences in scales used to assess SD, could reduce the significance of our findings. However, treatment-emergent SD is a frequent adverse effect that should be considered in clinical activity for the choice of the prescribed drug.
PubMed 19440080 ↗Conclusion: In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: affect management, antiepileptic drugs, antihypertensive drugs, benzodiazepines, brofaromine, carbamazepine, CBT, drama therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, fluoxetine, group therapy, hydrocortisone, hypnotherapy, inpatient treatment programmes, internet-based psychotherapy, mirtazepine, multiple-session CBT, multiple-session collaborative trauma support, multiple-session education, nefazodone, olanzapine, paroxetine, phenelzine, propranolol, psychodynami
PubMed 19454111 ↗Conclusion: The differences between drugs and placebo were small, apart from a significant reduction in symptom severity and response for paroxetine. We suggest paroxetine as a first-line treatment of SAD, with the consideration of future research on the drug olanzapine as well as brofaromine, bromazepam, clonazepam, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, phenelzine, and sertraline because we observed a response to treatment.
PubMed 32039743 ↗How often each side effect came up across all reports.
First-hand experiences, quoted verbatim. We show one positive and one negative where both exist.
“I'm taking an MAOI as well (Nardil/Phenelzine) in conjunction with Modafinil...it has also raised my motivation, confidence and energy by about 80 percent.”
“Phenelzine would be my first pick. Has shown great results with Anhedonia and panic disorder.”
“The antidepressant phenelzine, which made me put on two stone in about two weeks until I scrambled to adapt my diet”
User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 3, 2026. How we rate