Posted by janeS on June 27, 2000, at 12:42:22
In reply to Re: MAOI Diet Restrictions, posted by Margi on June 27, 2000, at 2:24:28
> >Adam
> Thank you for your encouragement. I am going to
> read the emedicine sight. I am wearing a bracelat.
> What do you do about keeping condiments,salsd dressings and miracle
> whip inthe frig,how long. I made progress in the
> grocery store today,I'm beginning to see the things I can eat instead
> of the things I can't. I pray this drug helps
> I'm stillnot sleeping but I surprisingly awake during the day. It's been almost
> 3 weeks.
> > Hey, Margi,
> >
> > It's natural to be afraid about the MAOI diet. I think most people who take an
> > MAOI and respond well to it find the dietary restrictions well worth the benefits
> > of the drug. From my own personal experience, I have found that many of the
> > "forbidden-foods" lists err on the side of caution, and that few things that are
> > not found on such lists should concern you. The numbers of MAOI users in this
> > country goes well into the hundreds of thousands, if not more. Each year only
> > a few hundred serious adverse events associated with MAOIs are reported, and that
> > includes all the deliberate and accidental overdoses, and the drug interactions.
> > There are only a handful of fatalities due to such interactions reported each
> > year, and I imagine only a fraction of those are due to unintentional exposures
> > to tyramine-rich foods.
> >
> > A good discussion of these issues can be found here:
> >
> > http://emedicine.com/cgi-bin/foxweb.exe/showsection@d:/em/ga?book=emerg&topicid=318
> >
> > It's also got a good "forbidden foods list".
> >
> > I think the main thing you should worry about (not that you shouldn't be careful
> > with the foods, but there's no need to overdo it) are the drug interactions. Get
> > a Medic-Alert bracelet, and if you have any doubts about a drug, contact a doctor
> > or a pharmacist before taking it.
> > > > Margi - A really good reference for MAOI diet is on this website. Scroll to the top of the page and and click on "Tips". Then scroll on the left hand side of the page to "MAOI Diet". This contains a fairly comprehensive list of "don'ts" and "maybes". Anything that is not covered, our MAOI experts will have an answer.
> > > >
> > > > As for your pdoc not calling back...Welcome to psychiatry!
> > > >
> > > > Hope this helps - Cam
> > > Cam, Thanks for answering. I've read everything on this sight, been to a dietician and a pharmacist. I'm dealing with fear and anxiety over this.
> > > The doc finally called back after my message said
> > > I needed to come in. Tsalk to him tomorrow morning. I need to be
> > > patience one step at a time. I've spent two days
> > > trying to organize my thoughts and history. I'm getting a new doc
> > > and therapist.
Margi:When I was first told I should take an MAOI I could not deal with the anxiety either...and anxiety was/is one of my big problems. It took me a few months to get used to the idea but then I did have a lot of confidence in my p-doc...so I finally did it. He told me basically to remember that if it 'bleeds or grows out of the ground' I could eat it. Well, after memorizing the MAOI diet list, I found it was much easier than I would have thought...though I did have to give up some of my favorite foods...some pizza, pickles, pepperoni, etc.
This was probably more relevant to you yesterday but I could not get it to post. You're right...when you go to the supermarket you realize how very little you have to give up. When cooking I did not use MSG but I did not hesitate to order in Chinese...so some of the warning may be similar to the results of the studies in mice...you know...are we EVER going to consume that amount?!
I was on Nardil for about 4 years and I felt so much better, because it has a a good anti-anxiety agent, (and I took it with 1mg Xanax/day) it was worth the extra effort to remember/question my special diet...and if you really want to get healthy, staying off these kinds of foods is better for you anyway.
The downside here, for me, was that it pooped-out on me after about 4 years...and now I am in that trial and error mode again...but I wish you lots of luck!
Jane
poster:janeS
thread:38324
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000619/msgs/38453.html