Drug & supplement interaction

Garcinia + Isocarboxazid

Isocarboxazid brand name: Marplan.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Garcinia has a moderate interaction with Isocarboxazid. Theoretically, combining garcinia with other serotonergic drugs might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects, including serotonin syndrome.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Garcinia and Isocarboxazid

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

SEROTONERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Isocarboxazid

Isocarboxazid falls under SEROTONERGIC DRUGS — the group Garcinia interacts with.

Theoretically, combining garcinia with other serotonergic drugs might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects, including serotonin syndrome.
In one report, a patient experienced serotonin syndrome after taking garcinia extract (60% hydroxycitric acid) 1000 mg daily in combination with escitalopram 20 mg, which had been taken for a year. The patient was switched to sertraline 50 mg daily and again experienced serotonin syndrome.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the concern with pairing Garcinia and isocarboxazid (Marplan). Marplan is an MAO inhibitor, one of the most powerful antidepressants we have when it comes to raising serotonin and other brain chemicals. There's a theory, backed mainly by a single case report, that Garcinia may nudge serotonin levels up too. Stack that on top of an MAOI and you could tip into serotonin syndrome, which can cause agitation, a racing heart, sweating, shakiness, muscle twitching, and dangerously high body temperature.

The evidence here is thin and mostly anecdotal, so I'm not trying to scare you. But MAOIs are touchy drugs with a long list of interactions, so please don't add Garcinia without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Lopez AM, Kornegay J, Hendrickson RG. Serotonin Toxicity Associated with Garcinia cambogia Over-the-counter Supplement. J Med Toxicol. 2014 Apr 4. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Garcinia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Garcinia has 703 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Isocarboxazid one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 703 No known interaction 2,127 (incl. Isocarboxazid)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Garcinia

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Garcinia. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Isocarboxazid

This page covers Garcinia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Isocarboxazid 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 Isocarboxazid page

“Isocarboxazid (Marplan) is an MAOI antidepressant, and that drug class carries some of the sharpest supplement and food hazards in the pharmacy, so read this list closely rather than skimming it. Fourteen of the 81 entries rate major, and most of the danger runs through tyramine.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Isocarboxazid interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Garcinia as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,374 real supplement products containing Garcinia, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Garcinia. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Isocarboxazid too, on top of Garcinia — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Garcinia and Isocarboxazid 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 Garcinia
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Isocarboxazid
Steady interest

#2,545 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.

Supplement

About Garcinia

What is Garcinia?

Garcinia
  • Weight loss
  • Appetite suppression
  • Curbing sugar and carb cravings
  • Supporting metabolism
  • Traditional cooking and souring agent

Garcinia is a tropical fruit whose rind contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), widely marketed for weight loss and appetite control. The scientific evidence is weak and mixed, with most studies showing only small or no meaningful weight effects, and rare reports of liver problems raise safety concerns. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before trying it, especially if you have liver issues, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Read the full Garcinia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Isocarboxazid

What Is Isocarboxazid Used For?

Brand name: Marplan

Marplan (isocarboxazid) is indicated for the treatment of depression — specifically, major depressive disorder. Because it carries serious risks, it is not a first-choice antidepressant. Marplan is generally reserved for patients who have not responded adequately to other antidepressants.

Clinical trials showed Marplan to be effective in adult outpatients with major depressive disorder, including those whose depression was accompanied by anxiety symptoms such as panic or phobias. Marplan is not approved for use in children or adolescents.

See full Isocarboxazid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Garcinia

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Garcinia — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
703Moderate
0Minor
2,126No known interaction
703 Moderate 2,126 No interaction
Moderate

703 interactions

Showing 60 of 703 moderate interactions — see all 703 on the Garcinia page.

No interaction 2,126 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Garcinia against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,126 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Garcinia list.

See the full Garcinia interactions page
See every supplement checked against Isocarboxazid, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Garcinia monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Isocarboxazid supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Isocarboxazid, ranked by severity Isocarboxazid drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Garcinia and Isocarboxazid Together: Common Questions

Can you take Garcinia with Isocarboxazid?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Garcinia and Isocarboxazid interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

Still Have a Question About Isocarboxazid and Garcinia?

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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.