Posted by KimS on July 18, 2004, at 8:26:39
Hi -
I started Nardil yesterday after trying every other type of drug known to man to blunt my panic disorder and depression. My mother's been on Nardil for 20 years with only one hypertensive episode after some Chinese food - she swears it was the MSG, but I don't know how that's possible. She was even given Demerol in the ER once (she was conscious and screaming at them she was on an MAOI), and amazingly enough it didn't kill her. She can eat chocolate, white wine, yogurt, etc.
However, I am scared to death because I can't seem to find any authoritative list of safe foods and drugs for MAOIs, and it seems that there isn't one because it's so highly variable. My doctor told me I could take regular Benadryl for allergic episodes, and my mother about had a fit and said it could kill me. I'm on my second day and I'm scared to eat anything, and just taking the Nardil even scares me because of the "spontaneous" hypertensive episodes I've read about. And then there are others that say the diet is too restrictive, and you can eat almost anything. I'm only on 15 mg/day for the first month (my doctor is extra cautious, my liver enzymes are a little elevated) and I feel like this drug is my last hope of having a normal life, but how normal can it be when you don't know whether what you eat is going to kill you?
Yes, I know that was a bit hysterical, but can I get a little positive reinforcement anyway? I'd be grateful.:)
Kim
poster:KimS
thread:367327
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040714/msgs/367327.html