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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alienatari on January 24, 2005, at 1:56:38
Hey all. Ive been told that Largactil can stop an MAOI crisis but i was wondering, could the drug that is related to Largactil, Stelazine, also stop a hypertensive crisis? I have read that Stelazine is contraindicated for people on MAOI's though on one web site so that scared me a bit. So i am a bit confused.
If anyone can provide any information i would greatly appreciate it.
The thing is, I asked my Psychatrist today if he would give me some Largactil for an emergency as i am on Parnate and he wont, he told me i should just go to hospital. But that can take ages and im scared. My Aunty is schizophrenic and takes Stelazine, and I could borrow a few pills off her for emergency use. But i dont know if they would make things worse or better? Does Stelazine lower blood pressure like Largactil/Thorazine does?
Thanks again
take care
Chris.
Posted by cubbybear on January 24, 2005, at 9:31:13
In reply to Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it, posted by alienatari on January 24, 2005, at 1:56:38
Hey, if you're sure you've got a hypertensive crisis, time is of the essence. You shoudn't be screwing around at the computer or debating the pros and cons of this or that. Get to the emergency room, tell them to take a blood pressure reading and give you some--now here's where my spelling might be wrong--nifedipine?? Heck I should know the exact name of this. . .but hopefully you will have gotten over this problem by the time you read this post.
When the danger is passed, pls. let us know how you did and what food(s) you ate that caused the crisis. Good luck.
Posted by Optimist on January 24, 2005, at 10:52:31
In reply to Re: Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it » alienatari, posted by cubbybear on January 24, 2005, at 9:31:13
My impression from reading others posts on MAOIs is that if you're experiencing a hypertensive crisis, waiting till you get to the hospital may be too long.
Personally I wouldn't want to drive to the hospital by myself if I was experiencing one if it came to it. It may not be the most safe thing to do if you didn't have someone else to drive you or have access to an ambulance. I can understand from the medical community's point of view that they don't want you self-administering a hypotensive in case something goes wrong. The best case scenario would probably to be prescribed an emergency pill, then find a way to the hospital afterwards to check on your progress.
It seems the most popular choice for a hypotensive agent on this board is to chew and swallow 10mg of Nifedipine at the first onset of a hypertensive crisis.
Brian
Posted by eeyorena on January 24, 2005, at 16:41:25
In reply to Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it, posted by alienatari on January 24, 2005, at 1:56:38
Chris--
Are you worrying about a potential hypertensive crisis on Parnate? That is the impression that I get from your note.
When I first began taking Parnate, I was so afraid of this happening. I had the same questions.
I've been on Parnate for almost 2 years. I've been careful with my diet and haven't suffered any ill effects. I do wear a medical ID bracelet just in case. And life is very normal.
Posted by alienatari on January 25, 2005, at 3:43:34
In reply to Re: Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it » alienatari, posted by cubbybear on January 24, 2005, at 9:31:13
Thanks. I think my message came out the wrong way. I meant in the event of a hyptertensive crisis, Im not having one (thank God) at the moment.
Take care
Posted by alienatari on January 25, 2005, at 3:45:13
In reply to Re: Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it, posted by Optimist on January 24, 2005, at 10:52:31
Thanks for the info. My doc wont do that for me. He thinks im just being paranoid and should go to the hospital in the event of something like this occuring. I really dont know what to do.
Thanks and take care
Posted by alienatari on January 25, 2005, at 3:46:22
In reply to Re: Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it, posted by eeyorena on January 24, 2005, at 16:41:25
Thanks for the post. Thats cool I wear a bracelet too saying that im on an MAOI. Ive only been on Parnate for about 2 months now. My fears are slowly going but Im still quite scared.
Take care
Posted by johnsmith12345 on January 25, 2005, at 4:16:11
In reply to Re: Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it, posted by alienatari on January 25, 2005, at 3:46:22
The most popular one I know of is procardia (nifedipine). But, some caution against its use because it drops blood pressure very rapidly and can cause complications.
Thorazine is also recommended for this purpose, but the standard caveats about taking antipsychotics apply.
Captopril, another antihypertensive medicine, is slightly slower than nifedipine at dropping blood pressure but it overall as effective. Besides, I think the difference is like 20 mins vs 10 mins. Compared to the 60 mins it takes to see a doctor at the emergency room, this is unimportant. Also the risk of complications is much less than with nifedipine. This is the medication I have chosen for myself in case of a hypertensive crisis.
If you are going to use any of these medications, purchase an automatic home blood pressure monitor that fits around your arm (not wrist or finger) and become accustomed to its use.
There are a lot of stories on the boards about people having hypertensive crises, going to the ER, and not getting proper care. If I were you, I would have one of these emergency medications around, to take on the way to the ER.
Posted by Maxime on January 25, 2005, at 19:34:16
In reply to Re: Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it » alienatari, posted by alienatari on January 25, 2005, at 3:43:34
Yes, your grandmother's would work as it also phenothiazine like Thorazine. It actually probably stronger. You can carry that around as your emergency pill. You would probably want to take 20 mg.
I know many people on MAOIs and they have had a hypertensive crisis and taken their thorazine and not needed to go to the hospital.
Maxime
> Thanks. I think my message came out the wrong way. I meant in the event of a hyptertensive crisis, Im not having one (thank God) at the moment.
>
> Take care
Posted by ed_uk on January 26, 2005, at 14:22:06
In reply to Hypertensive Crisis on Parnate, How to stop it, posted by alienatari on January 24, 2005, at 1:56:38
Hi,
>My Aunty is schizophrenic and takes Stelazine, and I could borrow a few pills off her for emergency use. But i dont know if they would make things worse or better? Does Stelazine lower blood pressure like Largactil/Thorazine does?
Stelazine lowers blood pressure less than Thorazine. It would not be a good treatment for a hypertensive crisis. A very high dose would be needed to treat a hypertensive crisis and the side effects would probably be severe. I would strongly discourage you from using Stelazine.
Ed.
This is the end of the thread.
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