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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sobeit on March 13, 2004, at 4:43:39
Have any others experienced B vitamin deficiency while taking Nardil or other MAOI? My experience began last year with paresthesia of the 5th pair of toes that gradually encompassed the 4th pair over another three months duration. I had an idea of what was occurring, but did not want to bring up another potential side effect of the Nardil with my pdoc. I had been taking a multivitamin, but decided to add high dose B complex vitamin supplement to my daily regimen. After approximately six weeks, the paresthesia was nearly gone and continues to be the case to this day. What I don't know is what particular B vitamin was deficient, and what may have been the actual cause - insufficient dietary intake, reduced absorption, altered cellular/liver metabolism, ??? I do recall that hydrazine compounds such as isoniazid are associated with vitamin B deficiency, so this may be true for the hydrazine derivative Nardil. Does anyone know more about this?
Posted by King Vultan on March 13, 2004, at 18:31:44
In reply to B vitamin deficiency with Nardil, posted by sobeit on March 13, 2004, at 4:43:39
> Have any others experienced B vitamin deficiency while taking Nardil or other MAOI? My experience began last year with paresthesia of the 5th pair of toes that gradually encompassed the 4th pair over another three months duration. I had an idea of what was occurring, but did not want to bring up another potential side effect of the Nardil with my pdoc. I had been taking a multivitamin, but decided to add high dose B complex vitamin supplement to my daily regimen. After approximately six weeks, the paresthesia was nearly gone and continues to be the case to this day. What I don't know is what particular B vitamin was deficient, and what may have been the actual cause - insufficient dietary intake, reduced absorption, altered cellular/liver metabolism, ??? I do recall that hydrazine compounds such as isoniazid are associated with vitamin B deficiency, so this may be true for the hydrazine derivative Nardil. Does anyone know more about this?
In the info I've seen, the particular B vitamin that is mentioned is vitamin B-6, pyridoxine, and I believe it is related to phenelzine being a hydrazine derivative. I do not know what the exact mechanism involved in the depletion is.Todd
Posted by Questionmark on March 14, 2004, at 2:54:17
In reply to Re: B vitamin deficiency with Nardil, posted by King Vultan on March 13, 2004, at 18:31:44
> > Have any others experienced B vitamin deficiency while taking Nardil or other MAOI? My experience began last year with paresthesia of the 5th pair of toes that gradually encompassed the 4th pair over another three months duration. I had an idea of what was occurring, but did not want to bring up another potential side effect of the Nardil with my pdoc. I had been taking a multivitamin, but decided to add high dose B complex vitamin supplement to my daily regimen. After approximately six weeks, the paresthesia was nearly gone and continues to be the case to this day. What I don't know is what particular B vitamin was deficient, and what may have been the actual cause - insufficient dietary intake, reduced absorption, altered cellular/liver metabolism, ??? I do recall that hydrazine compounds such as isoniazid are associated with vitamin B deficiency, so this may be true for the hydrazine derivative Nardil. Does anyone know more about this?
>
>
> In the info I've seen, the particular B vitamin that is mentioned is vitamin B-6, pyridoxine, and I believe it is related to phenelzine being a hydrazine derivative. I do not know what the exact mechanism involved in the depletion is.
>
> Toddi'm only speculating, but... Nardil inhibits GABA-transaminase (i think it's called), and GABA-transaminase requires vitamin B-6 for its formation. Does that have something to do with it possibly?
Posted by djmmm on March 16, 2004, at 16:52:17
In reply to B vitamin deficiency with Nardil, posted by sobeit on March 13, 2004, at 4:43:39
> Have any others experienced B vitamin deficiency while taking Nardil or other MAOI? My experience began last year with paresthesia of the 5th pair of toes that gradually encompassed the 4th pair over another three months duration. I had an idea of what was occurring, but did not want to bring up another potential side effect of the Nardil with my pdoc. I had been taking a multivitamin, but decided to add high dose B complex vitamin supplement to my daily regimen. After approximately six weeks, the paresthesia was nearly gone and continues to be the case to this day. What I don't know is what particular B vitamin was deficient, and what may have been the actual cause - insufficient dietary intake, reduced absorption, altered cellular/liver metabolism, ??? I do recall that hydrazine compounds such as isoniazid are associated with vitamin B deficiency, so this may be true for the hydrazine derivative Nardil. Does anyone know more about this?
Hydrazine and its deravitives are B6 antagonists. They inactivate the phosphorylated derivative/coenzyme of B-6 called pyridoxyl-5-phosphate which is necessary for the metabolism of amino acids and glycogen, the synthesis of nucleic acids, hemogloblin, and the synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/vit_0215.shtml
Posted by sobeit on March 16, 2004, at 19:52:23
In reply to Re: B vitamin deficiency with Nardil, posted by djmmm on March 16, 2004, at 16:52:17
However -
my experience with temporary peripheral neuropathy does not appear to be associated with the common clinical signs of B6 deficiency. I did find information from the PDR site that thiamin (B1) and B12 deficiencies have been known to result peripheral paresthesia, but not B6. The other unusual sign I experienced is geographic tongue - apparently associated with immune deficiency/stress/allergy/anemia/???
http://www.dermnetnz.org/index.html
I have only experienced this while taking Nardil. I've discontinued the B vitamin supplements to see if the condition returns over the next 2-3 months.
This is the end of the thread.
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