Posted by Ame Sans Vie on October 8, 2003, at 21:12:24
In reply to Robitussen and Parnate a no-no?, posted by eric24 on October 6, 2003, at 20:23:08
Caleb's got it -- avoid the DXM at all costs. And yes, you most likely should see a doctor about an opioid-based syrup (or other formulation -- doesn't have to be a syrup) if the cough is non-productive (most people want to go right for the syrups, but the truth is they don't "coat" your throat and exert any more an effect than pills, lozenges... even suppositories). That being said, a lot of prescription drug references like to try to scare you away from all opioids if you're taking an MAOI, which is ridiculous. Meperidine/pethidine, buprenorphine, and tramadol should always be avoided, but I can't think of one good reason to fear any of the other opioid based analgesics/antidiarrheals/anaesthetics/cough-suppressants while taking an MAOI. I found the Tussionex Pennkinetic cough suspension to be just great for a hacking cough I had while on Nardil a while back, as well as another pretty nasty one I caught a few months ago that DXM alone just didn't take care of. It's a combination of hydrocodone (the active narcotic in Vicodin/Vicoprofen/Norco/Zydone/Lorcet/Lortab/etc.) and chlorpheniramine maleate (a common antihistamine. Some say that MAOIs are contraindicated with antihistamines, but I have yet to see any literature that indicates this nor any first-, second-, or even third-hand stories about close-encounters with MAO inhibition plus antihistamine. I think a lot of people think "pseudoephedrine", which is a decongestant contained in a lot of antihistamines (Actifed, for example) which can be dangerous taken with MAOIs.
Only one thing I have to disagree with is codeine being more potent than DXM... as far as I can remember, DXM and codeine are equipotent cough suppressants. Though I'll concede that codeine can be a little more fun (if ya don't forget the diphenhydramine cream, and lots of it, lol).
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:266112
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031004/msgs/266951.html