Drug & supplement interaction

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) + Tranylcypromine

Tranylcypromine brand name: Parnate.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Tranylcypromine and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) safety at a glance

Gamma-hydroxybutyr... overall Avoid GHB is a controlled substance with a high risk of overdose, coma, and death; it is not a safe supplement.
Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally. GHB has been associated with life-threatening toxicities. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Unsafe When used orally. GHB has been associated with life-threatening toxicities. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Tranylcypromine and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Tranylcypromine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Tranylcypromine is filed under 5 classifications — including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (maois), antidepressant drugs, serotonergic drugs. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — the most serious being alcohol (ethanol) (major), cns depressants (major) and divalprox sodium (depakote) (major) — and none of Tranylcypromine’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) Does Interact With Other Medications

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has 249 major, 21 moderate, 5 minor known drug interactions in our database — Tranylcypromine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb). Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 5 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Memory problems / Confusion Worth acting on Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “Orally, GHB can cause confusion, hallucinations, agitation, and amnesia. In people who are dependent on GHB, withdrawal can cause auditory and visual hallucinations, anxiety, delirium, panic, psychoses, and terror.”

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 6016. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
    2. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    3. 93823. Kuiper MA, Peikert N, Boerma EC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome: a case report. Cases J. 2009 Mar 25;2:6530. DOI
    4. 93824. Leone MA, Vigna-Taglianti F, Avanzi G, Brambilla R, Faggiano F. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) for treatment of alcohol withdrawal and prevention of relapses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Feb 17;(2):CD006266. PubMed
    5. 93827. Nimmerrichter AA, Walter H, Gutierrez-Lobos KE, Lesch OM. Double-blind controlled trial of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and clomethiazole in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol Alcohol. 2002 Jan-Feb;37(1):67-73. PubMed
    6. 93830. Stomberg MW, Knudsen K, Stomberg H, Skärsäter I. Symptoms and signs in interpreting gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) intoxication - an explorative study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2014 Apr 23;22:27. PubMed

    Tranylcypromine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tranylcypromine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Unsteadiness / Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “Orally, GHB can cause headache, hallucinations, dizziness, confusion, amnesia, drowsiness, somnolence, tremor, and agitation. It can also cause ataxia, eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, memory loss, reduced or altered levels of consciousness, seizures, and coma.”

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 6016. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
    2. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    3. 93823. Kuiper MA, Peikert N, Boerma EC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome: a case report. Cases J. 2009 Mar 25;2:6530. DOI
    4. 93824. Leone MA, Vigna-Taglianti F, Avanzi G, Brambilla R, Faggiano F. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) for treatment of alcohol withdrawal and prevention of relapses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Feb 17;(2):CD006266. PubMed
    5. 93827. Nimmerrichter AA, Walter H, Gutierrez-Lobos KE, Lesch OM. Double-blind controlled trial of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and clomethiazole in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol Alcohol. 2002 Jan-Feb;37(1):67-73. PubMed
    6. 93830. Stomberg MW, Knudsen K, Stomberg H, Skärsäter I. Symptoms and signs in interpreting gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) intoxication - an explorative study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2014 Apr 23;22:27. PubMed

    Tranylcypromine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tranylcypromine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on reported in 7.3% of FDA reports for Tranylcypromine Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    “Orally, GHB can cause chest tightness, bradycardia or tachycardia, and cardiac arrest. In people who are dependent on GHB, withdrawal can cause tachycardia and hypertension.”

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cardiac arrest.

    6 sources cited
    1. 6016. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
    2. 10658. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
    3. 93820. Boscolo-Berto R, Viel G, Montagnese S, Raduazzo DI, Ferrara SD, Dauvilliers Y. Narcolepsy and effectiveness of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sleep Med Rev. 2012 Oct;16(5):431-43. PubMed
    4. 107794. Aronsen AC, Brekke M, Vallersnes OM. Acute poisoning with gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2020;140(10). PubMed
    5. 107795. Lee S, Boyce SL, Southwell J. Case of gamma-hydroxybutyrate poisoning in an infant. J Paediatr Child Health 2022;58(5):909-910. PubMed
    6. 6612. Galloway GP, Frederick SL, Staggers FE Jr, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: an emerging drug of abuse that causes physical dependence. Addiction 1997;92:89-96. DOI

    Tranylcypromine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tranylcypromine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Tremor or shakiness / Drowsiness Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    Recorded for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Memory problems / Confusion above.

    Tranylcypromine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tranylcypromine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Trouble sleeping / Sweating reported in 7.3% of FDA reports for Tranylcypromine Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    Recorded for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Unsteadiness / Seizures above.

    Tranylcypromine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tranylcypromine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A fast or pounding heartbeat Additional detail

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

    Recorded for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Memory problems / Confusion above.

    Tranylcypromine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tranylcypromine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 16 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) but not commonly for Tranylcypromine: hallucinations, chest pain, severe muscle breakdown and a slow heartbeat.

Effects for Tranylcypromine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 1,111 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Tranylcypromine that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Unsafe

When used orally. GHB has been associated with life-threatening toxicities.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Overlapping uses

What Tranylcypromine Is Prescribed For, and What Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Tranylcypromine is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Tranylcypromine is prescribed for: Tranylcypromine tablets — sold as Parnate, Tranylcypromine, and Tranylcypromine Sulfate — are used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. It is not a first-choice antidepressant; it is specifically for people who have already tried other antidepressants and have not gotten adequate relief. Because of its serious potential side effects, strict dietary requirements, and many drug interactions, tranylcypromine is reserved for cases where other treatments have not worked. It is not approved for use in children.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has been studied for:

  • Depression studied, not established Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) for depression

    Although there has been interest in using oral GHB for depression, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of GHB for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Tranylcypromine on your own; if you are taking Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Tranylcypromine

This page covers Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tranylcypromine page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Bitter Orange (major), Brewer's Yeast (major) and Cowhage (major).

By severity: 14 major · 55 moderate · 12 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tranylcypromine page

“Tranylcypromine (Parnate) belongs to the MAOI class of antidepressants, and I read its supplement list with real seriousness, since the highest-rated entries can turn dangerous quickly. The drug blocks the enzyme that normally clears tyramine, so tyramine-rich items like brewer's yeast, fermented soy, and even beer or wine can push blo…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tranylcypromine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)
Steady interest

#918 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Tranylcypromine
Top half

#1,162 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

What is Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)?

  • Narcolepsy (cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness)
  • Sleep aid
  • Misused as a recreational 'party drug'
  • Bodybuilding/muscle building (unproven)
  • Alcohol withdrawal (in some countries)

GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a powerful central nervous system depressant that is NOT a safe dietary supplement. In the U.S. it is a controlled substance, and only a tightly regulated prescription form (sodium oxybate) is legal for narcolepsy. Non-prescription GHB can cause coma, breathing failure, and death, and it is also a known 'date-rape' drug — it should not be taken outside of medical supervision.

Liquid solution, powder, prescription oral solution (sodium oxybate)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) record says about it on its own.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb): dosing

There is no safe over-the-counter or supplement dose of GHB. Because illicit products are not standardized, there is no reliable way to measure a safe amount, and small differences can cause overdose.The only legitimate use is the prescription medication sodium oxybate, which is dosed and monitored by a doctor through a special safety program. Do not attempt to use GHB on your own.

From our Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Tranylcypromine

What Is Tranylcypromine Used For?

Brand name: Parnate

Tranylcypromine tablets — sold as Parnate, Tranylcypromine, and Tranylcypromine Sulfate — are used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. It is not a first-choice antidepressant; it is specifically for people who have already tried other antidepressants and have not gotten adequate relief.

Because of its serious potential side effects, strict dietary requirements, and many drug interactions, tranylcypromine is reserved for cases where other treatments have not worked. It is not approved for use in children.

See full Tranylcypromine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

249Major
21Moderate
5Minor
2,554No known interaction
Major

249 interactions

Showing 60 of 249 major interactions — see all 249 on the Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) page.

Moderate

21 interactions

Minor

5 interactions

No interaction 2,554 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) References

The 31 references that drive our Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Harrington RD, Woodward JA, Hooton TM, et al. Life-threatening interactions between HIV-1 protease inhibitors and the illicit drugs MDMA and gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2221-4.
  2. Anon. FDA alert on misuse of consumer products containing GHB, GBL and BD. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. June 15, 1999.
  3. Anon. Important message for health professionals: Report serious adverse events associated with dietary supplements containing GBL, GHB or BD. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. August 25, 1999. Available at: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/mwg
  4. Otto A. Acquaintance rape drug may one day help instead of hurt (news). Pharmacy Today. American Pharmaceutical Association, Washington, DC. April 2000:17.
  5. Anon. Multistate outbreak of poisonings associated with illicit use of gamma hydroxy butyrate. JAMA 1991;265:447-8. DOI
  6. Dyer JE. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate: a health-food product producing coma and seizure-like activity (abstract). Am J Emerg Med 1991;9:321-4.
  7. FDA Talk Paper. FDA Warns About GBL-Related Products. 1999. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/tpgbl2.html
  8. Timby N, Eriksson A. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-Associated Deaths. Am J Med 2000;108:518. PubMed
  9. Galloway GP, Frederick SL, Staggers FE Jr, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: an emerging drug of abuse that causes physical dependence. Addiction 1997;92:89-96. DOI
  10. Price G. In-patient detoxification after GHB dependence. Br J Psychiatry 2000;177:181. PubMed
  11. Dyer J, Roth B, Hyma B. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate withdrawal syndrome. Ann Emerg Med 2001;37:147-53.. PubMed
  12. Ingels M, Rangan C, Bellezzo J, Clark R. Coma and respiratory depression following the ingestion of GHB and its precursors: Three cases. J Emerg Med 2000;19:47-50.. PubMed
  13. Mason P, Kerns II W. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Intoxication. Acad Emerg Med 2002;9:730-39.. DOI
  14. Abanades S, Farré M, Segura M, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in humans: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Aug;1074:559-76. PubMed
  15. Boscolo-Berto R, Viel G, Montagnese S, Raduazzo DI, Ferrara SD, Dauvilliers Y. Narcolepsy and effectiveness of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sleep Med Rev. 2012 Oct;16(5):431-43. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) with Tranylcypromine?
We do not list a known interaction between Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Tranylcypromine is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Tranylcypromine combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Tranylcypromine is filed under 5 classifications, and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — none of Tranylcypromine's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) interact with any other medications?
Yes. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has 275 documented drug interactions in our database — Tranylcypromine is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Tranylcypromine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Tranylcypromine has documented interactions with 81 supplements in our database — Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) is not one of them. The Tranylcypromine interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.