Posted by Elizabeth on September 6, 1999, at 1:10:59
In reply to Re: Antidepressants (Parnate) HELP, posted by Michael on September 4, 1999, at 21:40:56
Hi everyone. A few thoughts....
About the "prohibited" slice of pizza: the following is an article I've been meaning to go look up:
Shulman KI, et al.
Refining the MAOI diet: tyramine content of pizzas and soy products.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1999 Mar;60(3):191-3.Basically the abstract says that apparently most pizza is actually okay, at least in moderation. This does not mean that all other foods (especially cheese-containing ones) are okay as well, however. I have my own list (based on some pretty thorough (IMHO) research I've done) that I keep to; it really doesn't interfere with my life at all. (Yes, I do drink Chianti wines.)
About headaches: a hypertensive headache is very distinctive. It hurts the worst at the back of your head and may radiate out; your scalp may also feel tingly. It is *not* one-sided or at the front of your head. It may be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, sweating, etc. It doesn't last for weeks. Usually your BP will go down on its own actually, but it's extremely important to have a plan worked out with your doc as to what you will do, especially if the headache is severe. (Generally severity of headache seems to be proportional to the rise in BP.)
Headaches can be associated with *low* blood pressure too, especially if accompanied by dizziness, dimming of vision, etc., if they get worse when you stand, that kind of thing. I've gotten this sometimes. Drink more fluids, eat more salt.
The basic minimal effective dose of Parnate is supposed to be 30mg; some people who are extra sensitive to it take 20mg. The official recommended maximum is 60mg. Some doctors will go up to 100mg or more.
I take 30mg (because I'm sensitive to the sympathomimetic effects) plus 600mg lithium augmentation.
poster:Elizabeth
thread:7977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990829/msgs/11084.html