Can I use ConZip if I am taking MAO inhibitors?

Your doctor will be extremely careful about giving you the pain medication ConZip (tramadol) if you're taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). MAOIs, which are usually prescribed to treat depression and anxiety, include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl, Zelapar) and isocarboxazid (Marplan). Studies show that combining ConZip with an MAOI increases the risk of serious side effects, such as seizures. ConZip plus an MAOI also can put you at risk for a rare but serious condition called serotonin syndrome, in which levels of the brain chemical serotonin become too high. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome are agitation, hallucinations, coma, rapid heartbeat, dramatic blood-pressure changes, dangerously high fever, coordination problems, twitching, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, serotonin syndrome can be fatal. Be sure to let your doctor know if you're taking an MAOI before you begin using ConZip (and vice versa).