Posted by ed_uk on May 4, 2006, at 14:45:25
In reply to Re: Went to pdoc today ... what do you think? » ed_uk, posted by yxibow on May 3, 2006, at 23:19:54
>And deadly, potentially.
Yes, but death is extremely unlikely. An MAOI-induced hypertensive crisis can be treatment relatively easily. A lot more people will have died of heart attacks, strokes etc following the use of atypical APs such as Zyprexa.
>It's not just MAOIs that contraindicate OTC medications - warfarin, and other drugs too
I'm not quite sure what you're saying here. MAOIs do not interact with warfarin.
>Yes, there is a chance of short term memory loss
There is a chance of long term memory loss, as many patients who've had ECT will tell you.
>risks of general anaesthesia
Modern anesthesia is very safe. The anesthesia used for ECT is brief, and relatively 'light'. The main risks come from having an electric shock to the head.
>Sure, if your life depended on what is essentially adult supervision and your doctor was sure you were going to jump out of the window, you couldn't exist in life otherwise, then an MAOI is awfully appropriate. But the casual use of them I think is personally dangerous.
At what point did I suggest that MAOIs should be used casually? In order to take an MAOI safely, the patient requires knowledge, not 'adult supervision'. If a patient was about to 'jump out of the window', admission to hospital would probably be appropriate. MAOIs are particularly suitable for severe atypical depression and/or social phobia. You do not need to be suicidal to take an MAOI.
Ed
poster:ed_uk
thread:639045
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060504/msgs/640002.html