Final answer:
The correct course of action is to hold the prescription of the MAOI tranylcypromine (Parnate) and notify the prescriber due to the potential for dangerous interactions with the recently discontinued SSRI, paroxetine (Paxil). A standard two-week washout period is recommended to avoid serotonin syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient who was taking an SSRI, specifically paroxetine (Paxil), and is now prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as tranylcypromine (Parnate) must be handled with caution. It is important to note that SSRIs and MAOIs can cause dangerous interactions if they are not sufficiently spaced apart in terms of administration. SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin, thereby increasing its concentration in the central nervous system, while MAOIs prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters by inhibiting the action of monoamine oxidase.
Given the potentially lethal interactions between SSRIs and MAOIs, and the one-week washout period that has just passed, the correct action would be d. Hold the Parnate and notify the prescriber. This is because the standard recommended washout period between discontinuing SSRIs and starting MAOIs is usually at least two weeks to avoid the risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from excessive serotonin in the central nervous system.