Posted by Elizabeth on January 20, 2000, at 22:04:48
In reply to Re: Ca++ blockers; Parnate , posted by Scott L. Schofield on January 20, 2000, at 14:58:03
> I am curious. Did this hypertensive episode with Parnate occur early on in treatment? From the stuff I read a few years ago, I got the impression that the chances of this happening were slim once one got past the first few days or weeks. Unfortunately, I read that Elizabeth can have this occur well into treatment any time the dosage exceeds 30 mg (?) or so.
It happens when I go higher than 10mg in a single dose. (Parnate has a short half-life, about 2 hours.) I took it for a year or so before switching to Marplan; the BP problem was still happening at the end of that year.
> I wonder if taking an antihypertensive during a Parnate "break-in" period might be effective in preventing a rise in blood-pressure, after which it can be discontinued. Parnate did cause me quite a bit of dizziness early on. You may be right in your thoughts regarding some sort of cumulative hypotensive effects when combining the two. That would be undesirable.
I have low baseline BP, so, well, yeah. (Parnate + pindolol was pretty freaky for me.)
> I used to carry a capsule of Procardia (nifedipine) with me just in case I was lured into participating in a pepperoni-eating contest ("pepperoni-effect"). Thankfully, I never had to use it.
I've used it a couple times (the most recent being yesterday). It was effective in bringing down my BP, had some pretty unpleasant tachycardia.
> The first time I was prescribed an MAO-inhibitor (Parnate), I was told by the doctor that the best way to treat a hypertensive crisis was to use a drug named Regitine (phentolamine), a nonselective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist that is used as an antihypertensive. I think it works by dialating peripheral blood vessels. It is now used quite a bit for surgery. It was once available in both oral and injectable forms. I'm not sure why, but the manufacture discontinued the oral form quite a few years ago.
Probably 'cause they hate us. :-}
> An oral preperation of phentolamine is currently being investigated as a treatment for ED (erectile dysfunction - impotence). Many studies have shown it to be effective. I'm sure there will be more studies to make sure that things hold-up. If it is approved for ED, I'm hoping my doctor will allow me to carry some around for hypertensive and other emergencies.
And then you can have wild passionate sex! :-)
> It's snowing here.
Here too.
poster:Elizabeth
thread:19261
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000112/msgs/19308.html