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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 13:39:59
I would like to try an maoi but my last pleasure in life is eating out once a week. Paranoid about something unknown getting into my food and having a hypertensive crisis in a restaurant.
Posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 14:17:39
In reply to I Would Take Nardil In A Heartbeat But, posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 13:39:59
Well if I had taste I would be too. But why would that stop you? You can live without eating out in my opinion. Phillipa
Posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 14:45:03
In reply to Re: I Would Take Nardil In A Heartbeat But » bulldog2, posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 14:17:39
> Well if I had taste I would be too. But why would that stop you? You can live without eating out in my opinion. Phillipa
Well I do have taste left and my wife really looks forward to eating out..Also might go on our first vacation in years to a resort and would like to not worry about what I eat.
Posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 15:55:27
In reply to Re: I Would Take Nardil In A Heartbeat But, posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 14:45:03
Isn't the diet fairly simple to follow? According to other posters impression I got. Hope you get to go. Phillipa
Posted by Racer on April 27, 2008, at 16:06:45
In reply to Re: I Would Take Nardil In A Heartbeat But » bulldog2, posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 15:55:27
Bulldog, you had a good point -- there are times when restaurants don't list every single ingredient in a dish, and that could potentially be a problem. My limited understanding is that Parnate can also cause idiopathic hypertensive crisis, but that it's rare. What GG has posted about having done is to make up a card that includes ALL the restricted foods, and hand it to the waiters to ask the chef if any ingredients are in the dish she's interested in. I think that's a good solution.
Phillipa, I understand that for you, eating out is not a big deal. I know that I would feel invalidated if someone told me that I "should" be able to live without it. In fact, I know that I've felt invalidated and offended when people here have suggested MAOIs to me, saying, "the diet isn't bad, even though you'd have to give up some of your favorite foods..." I hope that you can understand how what you said might sound to the original poster -- someone who stated right off the bat that eating out is a special and important part of his life.
Posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 16:36:06
In reply to That's a good point, posted by Racer on April 27, 2008, at 16:06:45
The diet would be no big deal at home because i eat very simply. However at a restaurant you have no idea what's in the sauces or other parts of the meal. Even if you ask the waiter or waitress they may only be guessing. I don't feel like telling them I'm on a med and if I eat a forbidden ingrediant I may have a hypertensive crisis.
Posted by carlton on April 27, 2008, at 17:00:46
In reply to That's a good point, posted by Racer on April 27, 2008, at 16:06:45
I've been on it for about 8 weeks. I am now up to 90mg a day.
For me, I haven't made any dietary changes . . . and, yes, I eat out regularly: chinese, mexican, italian, american, sushi -
I still drink a pot of coffee a day.
Hard to know how Nardil will effect you, without being on it.
Posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 17:08:38
In reply to That's a good point, posted by Racer on April 27, 2008, at 16:06:45
Racer good point. Phillipa Apologies to bulldog.
Posted by stargazer2 on April 27, 2008, at 17:17:39
In reply to I Would Take Nardil In A Heartbeat But, posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 13:39:59
Hi Bulldog, Don't let the diet scare you away from something that could potentially change your life so dramatically. It would be worth it and if it didn't work to your expectations, you could always go off it and resume your uncensored dietary style.
I tried Nardil in 1987, as only the second drug after Elavil. The diet was not difficult to follow and since I felt so much better, giving up certain foods was rather easy. I fortunately don't like many foods on the MAO diet, like aged foods, red wine, etc.
After many years and many meds between then and now, I'm back on Nardil and although it is not the drug I remembered it to be back then, it has given me back more of my life than most other meds I've tried. All the other meds just seemed to make me feel worse, never better.
When I go out to eat, I never have a real problem unless everything has cheese in it. Occasionally I may eat something that may not be on the allowed list, but it has not given me much trouble. I did go overboard with pizza once and it affected my BP. but for myself, eating a piece of pizza has not caused any crisis to occur.
The only real trouble I have had was taking meds that were contraindicated. It was always an oversight. As a matter of fact, I'm currently on a muscle relaxant for a pulled muscle in my back, and even though the doc knew about me being on a MAO, he prescribed this drug. The first one was called Skelaxin, which I think was OK with Nardil except it didn't do squat for the neck problem. I called the doc back and he now prescribed another called Cyclobenzaprine. I should have known better than to not look it up immediately for interactions w Nardil. The name 'benzaprine' should have given me a clue but it didn't. All I know is that since taking it I have felt hot and itch terribly. Last night after taking it on and off for a week, I looked it up and low and behold, it is not to be given with a MAO.
All this means is that if you do go on Nardil, YOU have to be the person who keeps track of the diet, the meds and everything else since many docs are not very good at heeding the MAO warnigs when giving other meds.
Well that's my speech on Nardil and it's shortcomings. It can make a major difference in your depression and despite the interactions and all, it is well worth the risks that there are. That is my opinion but only you can make the decision to try it. but if your depression is anything like mine, I had nothing to lose by trying it. I had everything to gain and although I wouldn't call it a miracle like the original Nardil was for me, it is certainly batter than the numerous other meds I tried over the past 20 some odd years on medication.
Stargazer
Posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 17:21:22
In reply to Re: That's a good point » Racer, posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 17:08:38
> Racer good point. Phillipa Apologies to bulldog.
No need to apologize as I wasn't offended.
Posted by 4WD on April 27, 2008, at 19:42:19
In reply to I Would Take Nardil In A Heartbeat But, posted by bulldog2 on April 27, 2008, at 13:39:59
> I would like to try an maoi but my last pleasure in life is eating out once a week. Paranoid about something unknown getting into my food and having a hypertensive crisis in a restaurant.
If you found a med that gave you your life back then your last pleasure in life wouldn't be eating out once a week. You'd have lots of pleasure in life. And wouldn't it be a very small price to pay not to be depressed?
Marsha
Posted by bulldog2 on April 28, 2008, at 7:12:15
In reply to Re: I Would Take Nardil In A Heartbeat But, posted by 4WD on April 27, 2008, at 19:42:19
> > I would like to try an maoi but my last pleasure in life is eating out once a week. Paranoid about something unknown getting into my food and having a hypertensive crisis in a restaurant.
>
> If you found a med that gave you your life back then your last pleasure in life wouldn't be eating out once a week. You'd have lots of pleasure in life. And wouldn't it be a very small price to pay not to be depressed?
>
> MarshaNow that is a very good point! My life has come down to a couple hours on a Saturday night.
This is the end of the thread.
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