Posted by jedi on August 26, 2006, at 2:27:03
In reply to maoi/hypertensive crisis question, posted by laima on August 22, 2006, at 15:41:16
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> Has this happened to anyone here? If it does happen, due to dietary indiscretion or snafu, is it really true that you would know immediately? And why do doctors not recommend benzodiazapines to calm it down if it does happen?
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> This is hypothetical- it's never happened to me and I do try to be careful with what I eat, even though I'm using Emsam- but the possibility is always in the back of my mind. Any experiences or comments? ThanksHi,
I've been on Nardil for most of ten years. I've had two hypertensive episodes. The first was just a space on my part, eating some white cheese which I thought was mozzarella. It wasn't. The 2nd was when I bought some codeine cough syrup in Canada. Codeine is over the counter there, and has never caused problems for me with MAOIs. The pharmacist said it would be just fine. But in small print was the word pseudoephedrine. I didn't have my reading glasses and I could not even see it. This drug is a big NO-NO with MAOIs and will cause a hypertensive crisis. It did for me.When I first started Nardil I had some orthostatic hypotension. This is when you stand up too fast, your BP goes way down, and you can get light headed and can even faint. After a while this side effect went away. Now Nardil tends to lower my BP a few points, which has actually kept me off of the beta-blockers, since my BP normally runs borderline high.
I used to carry niphedipine for emergencies. My current doctor does not want to risk this, because niphedipine can lower your BP too much, which is very dangerous also. Benzos will not help a hypertensive episode.
When taking the irreversible MAOIs you just have to take a lot of responsibility on yourself. I research every medication I take now and have a handle on all of the foods that affect me.
Take care,
Jedi
poster:jedi
thread:679049
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060825/msgs/680204.html