Posted by Jost on May 25, 2006, at 21:57:03
In reply to Re: Emsam vs. sublingual selegiline » Iansf, posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2006, at 18:49:45
There are two types of mao: mao-a and mao-b. Mao-a is found primarily in the intestines and mao-b is primarily in the brain.
Parnate and Nardil, for example, are unselective and irreversible inhibitors of both types of mao. Selegiline is an irreversible but selective inhibitor, primarily of mao-b. It is also a weak inhibitor of mao-a, which is why, at high doses, oral selegiline (and possibly emsam, although many doubt this) requires the tyramine diet. Emsam goes directly into the bloodstream. (This is greatly oversimplified, for the purposes of the discussion.)
The difference between emsam and oral selegiline, that is, is that emsam avoids a first-pass through the intestines and liver, which means you can take much higher doses without triggering any adverse food reactions. .
Someone had a good, although rather technical online discussion, which I'll try to find.
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:647941
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060525/msgs/648641.html