Posted by SLS on July 16, 2003, at 13:27:39
In reply to Frightened of MAOIs - nifedipine?, posted by david maclean on July 16, 2003, at 5:18:54
> I am being asked by my psch-doc to start on MAOIs. I am concerned that I may have real difficulty in keeping to the strict dietary regime.
>
> If I eat the wrong food when taking MAOIs (Nardil 15mg for now) then I understand that my blood pressure may rise dramatically. I am already being treated by my GP for high blood pressure. The blood pressure is down to about 140/88 when I take blood pressure meds
>
> I heard somewhere that patients on MAOIs should carry NIFEDIPINE with them for an emergency. Presumably nifedipine lowers blood pressure quickly.
>
> Did people here who started on MAOIs carry nifedipine or something similar?
>
> Should I get my psych doc to give me some? It is hard to get to see her but I will if I have to.
>
> Thank you for any advice. Sorry to be such a worrier!
Hi David.It is good to have a healthy respect for MAOIs and their interactions with foods and other medications. I agree with the others that the diet is not nearly as restrictive as is often stated. I have been on high dosages of several MAOIs: Parnate, Nardil, Marplan, selegiline, and clorgyline. I never had a problem with cheese pizza and white wines. American cheese is OK. I'll see if I can find a diet list somewhere. While taking MAOIs, I carry around nifedipine (Procardia) just in case. One bonus of using Nardil is that it will probably *lower* your blood pressure.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:242388
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030714/msgs/242535.html