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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MavsFan on December 6, 2006, at 10:06:52
Short Question: Are there any muscle relaxers, such as Soma, that are safe with Parnate (I take 80 mg/day)? Am particularly interested in reports from those who have actually taken an MAOI and a muscle relaxer together.
Backstory (pardon the pun): Tweaked my lower back and having some severe back pain. Tried managing with Advil, but pain persisted and increased. Went to local "Doc-in-the-box" to see if muscle problem or possible kidney stone. Diagnosed as muscle issue. Had specific conversation with nurse about MAOI and made sure she noted on chart. Did not have specific conversation with Dr. about MAOI (my bad) because when he mentioned muscle relaxer I was immediately concerned about drowsiness issues for work (have important meetings coming up this week I need to be sharp for) and was focussed on that. When nurse brought prescriptions in, I asked if she had discussed MAOI issue with Dr. She said she had and that he had looked at my chart closely.
Took prescription to my pharmacy and you know those funny feelings you sometimes get? Got one since I didn't know this Dr. and hadn't specifically talked to HIM about MAOI, so I asked my pharmacist to double check drug interactions of prescriptions with Parnate. Good thing. Dr. had prescribed Flexeril as a muscle relaxer, which showed up with possible interactions with Parnate of "coma and death." Not exactly the treatment of my muscle pain I was looking for.
When I called Dr. to let him know of the boo-boo, rather than coming up with another muscle relaxer that didn't have interactions with Parnate, he took the safe and lazy way out of saying, well, just forget the muscle relaxer and take the pain meds by themselves.
Pharmacist said he thought Soma would be OK, but both he and I couldn't find anything definitive one way or the other. Hoping someone in this group has taken a muscle relaxer before with an MAOI and can point me in the right direction so I can go back to Doc and get one that is safe.
Thanks,
MavsFan
Posted by gardenergirl on December 6, 2006, at 11:05:12
In reply to MAOI's and Muscle Relaxers, posted by MavsFan on December 6, 2006, at 10:06:52
I took Skelaxin with Nardil with no trouble. It was not contraindicated or even a caution. However, it didn't seem to do squat for the spasm in my back. I felt absolutely nothing.
I didn't take it long, and maybe it takes awhile? It's safe, anyway.
Sorry about your pain.
gg
Posted by Honore on December 6, 2006, at 16:33:41
In reply to MAOI's and Muscle Relaxers, posted by MavsFan on December 6, 2006, at 10:06:52
Flexeril, ie cyclobenzaprine, is something my pdoc told me was definitely contraindicated with with Parnate.
I mostly used xanax, which is a pretty effective muscle relaxant (as is Valium), with the pain meds (tylenol 3) and ice/heat.
When I started Emsam (another MAOI), I was using Carisoprodol (ie Soma). When I asked him about taking that with Emsam, he checked it, and said it was fine. I used that with Emsam without any problem.
You might want to check more specifically with a pdoc about Parnate-- but the likelihood is it's okay. Most of the med interactions are considered similar for MAOIs as a class. But I"m not a physician, so I wouldn't want to claim to be certain.
This based on inferences, rather than direct statement by my pdoc.
Good luck.
Honore
Posted by yxibow on December 6, 2006, at 20:30:49
In reply to MAOI's and Muscle Relaxers, posted by MavsFan on December 6, 2006, at 10:06:52
> Short Question: Are there any muscle relaxers, such as Soma, that are safe with Parnate (I take 80 mg/day)? Am particularly interested in reports from those who have actually taken an MAOI and a muscle relaxer together.
>
> Backstory (pardon the pun): Tweaked my lower back and having some severe back pain. Tried managing with Advil, but pain persisted and increased. Went to local "Doc-in-the-box" to see if muscle problem or possible kidney stone. Diagnosed as muscle issue. Had specific conversation with nurse about MAOI and made sure she noted on chart. Did not have specific conversation with Dr. about MAOI (my bad) because when he mentioned muscle relaxer I was immediately concerned about drowsiness issues for work (have important meetings coming up this week I need to be sharp for) and was focussed on that. When nurse brought prescriptions in, I asked if she had discussed MAOI issue with Dr. She said she had and that he had looked at my chart closely.
>
> Took prescription to my pharmacy and you know those funny feelings you sometimes get? Got one since I didn't know this Dr. and hadn't specifically talked to HIM about MAOI, so I asked my pharmacist to double check drug interactions of prescriptions with Parnate. Good thing. Dr. had prescribed Flexeril as a muscle relaxer, which showed up with possible interactions with Parnate of "coma and death." Not exactly the treatment of my muscle pain I was looking for.
>
> When I called Dr. to let him know of the boo-boo, rather than coming up with another muscle relaxer that didn't have interactions with Parnate, he took the safe and lazy way out of saying, well, just forget the muscle relaxer and take the pain meds by themselves.
>
> Pharmacist said he thought Soma would be OK, but both he and I couldn't find anything definitive one way or the other. Hoping someone in this group has taken a muscle relaxer before with an MAOI and can point me in the right direction so I can go back to Doc and get one that is safe.
>
> Thanks,
> MavsFan
Flexeril from my own experience is not the most pleasant compound fairly related enough to say it is a tricyclic. That's the interaction. Of course, as they say, ymmv (not with MAOIs, but experience with the agent.) With an MAOI I would think any tricyclic would be contraindicated
Soma, carisoprodol, is not related to anything except its metabolite, Miltown, a rather ancient anti-anxiety drug. Questions would be more of whether one can stay awake/alert/etc, I believe.
It certainly does its job and then some but can't take it myself because I take benzodiazepines. Its chemical cousin Robaxin is safer in that multiple situation because it is weaker, alas.-- Jay
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