Posted by Elizabeth on September 6, 1999, at 1:21:56
In reply to Re: Parnate's stimulant effect, posted by anita on September 5, 1999, at 17:25:52
Hi. The rumor you heard is due to the fact that Parnate's chemical structure is *very* close to amphetamine (at one time, amphetamine was thought to be a metabolite of Parnate), and also to some clinical observations that Parnate was more stimulating (caused more insomnia, agitation, jitters, ?increased alertness?) than other MAOIs. In addition, there are a few patients, including myself, who have spontaneous episodes of dangerously high blood pressure (not due to food or drug interactions) on fairly low doses of Parnate. (For me it happens if I take 20mg or more in a single dose, which is why I'm only on 30mg total now.) It is the sort of reaction one might expect to see if, a person on a MAOI took, say, amphetamine. This does not seem to happen with other MAOIs.
Many people do have drowsiness, especially in the mid-to-late afternoon, on Parnate and other MAOIs. Not what causes this; perhaps it's because
almost everyone takes it in the AM, so they are experiencing a sort of rebound. I get it too, but only mildly (I take 30mg in three divided doses, which probably minimizes this).Anita is right to point out that there are people who get drowsy on amphetamines as well!
poster:Elizabeth
thread:10990
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990829/msgs/11085.html