Posted by Adam on June 14, 2000, at 22:51:25
In reply to Re: MAO/ beer/hops/Med Alert Etc., posted by Diane E. on June 14, 2000, at 12:39:22
Dianne,
I had the same fears about Parnate the first time it was suggested to me (about a year-and-a-half ago). No one tried to persuade me to try them, it was just an idea that was floated. At any rate, after responding to an MAOI, I am so happy that I tried it, and I am not at all bothered by the dietary restrictions. It's a more than equitable trade.
I also had tried just about every class of drug under the sun except an MAOI with little success. It's worth it for him to try. Try to make him see that.
I think I remember reading that Parnate is not a particularly lethal drug in overdose, unlike the TCAs, for instance. Also, it's not all that easy to actually kill yourself by eating the wrong foods while on an MAOI. Actual deaths caused by tyramine-related hypertensive crises are very rare. Not to be morbid, but if I was really serious about killing myself, I'd try something else. Probably all I'd get out Parnate + a pound of Stilton cheese is many hours of truly unpleasant illness. Parnate in combination with some medications might be a more serious concern. Perhaps a partial solution would be to put those medications someplace safe and out of reach.
But, really, if your husband is in that much of a risk for suicide, I might think seriously about getting him into a hospital. Perhaps he could start Parnate there.
> Ugh! These last couple of posts have made me very sad. I know I have to share this information
> with my husband and I fear it will mean he won't try Parnate. He doesn't believe it will help his
> depression (b/c he has tried SO many other meds. that have not helped), so he sees these restrictions
> and precautions as very extreme for no benefit. Obviously, he would feel differently if the Parnate
> helped, but he can't even imagine it helping in his current state of mind. The Parnate also scares me
> because if it does not help, it seems like it will be giving a person with pretty strong suicidal ideations
> as very easy means of hurting himself. I'm not sure what I am asking here. I'm just feeling
> scared and uncertain of how to proceed. I realize in the end these decisions lie with him, but
> he seems to really be at the end of his rope and not able to make good choices for himself.
> Thanks for listening.
> -Diane
poster:Adam
thread:37074
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37332.html