Final answer:
Amitriptyline (Elavil) should not be combined with phenelzine (Nardil) due to the risk of serious side effects such as serotonin syndrome. Alternative treatments for depression include psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, deep-brain stimulation, and SSRIs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The combination of medications that should not be used together for patients who are depressed is amitriptyline (Elavil) and phenelzine (Nardil). Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, while phenelzine is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). The simultaneous use of tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs can lead to serious side effects such as serotonin syndrome, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. It's essential to avoid combining these drugs unless under direct supervision and explicit guidance from a healthcare provider.
When treating depression, other methods include psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, deep-brain stimulation, and other classes of antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These treatments have different mechanisms of action and drug interaction profiles that are generally considered safer than the combination of tricyclic antidepressants with MAOIs.