Posted by SLS on June 12, 2000, at 8:17:12
In reply to Re: MAOI Reaction Symptoms , posted by Jennifer on June 10, 2000, at 23:49:44
Dear Jennifer,
Thank you for contributing such a great post. I hadn't known that the MAOI-tyramine reaction could take such a delayed and gradual course. You know more about this reaction than anyone I have encountered, and this is very important information.
That tyramine can be absorbed by glass is fascinating. Do you know if this occurs regularly with other compounds? Is it because glass is a liquid?
I'm going to remember the black vs red label on the dentist's novacaine bottle or syringe.
Thanks again.
- Scott
> Just had time to read up on these posts. I agree with Scott about seeking emergency help ASAP with signs of a tyramine rxn. I had 3 reasons for pointing out that the tyramine rxn is often a delayed one. First, if you eat something with high tyramine content and begin to have symptoms 6-12 hours later...don't ignore them. Also, many people rush to the hospital or call their MD with the onset of any HA. Close monitoring of bp should reveal a slow increase. A diastolic bp over 120 &/or systolic of 220 is indicative of the beginning of a HTN crisis...seek medical help. This can be helpful to those that are close to medical care, and can wait to see if any rxn's occur. The third reason is that if you may have the onset of a severe headache, but no bp changes, the ER doc may conclude that you have a migraine. By noting the often delayed rxn to tyramines, you can be informed since many medical professional aren't.> The severe HA in the base of the skull is the classical onset of a rxn, however, if it does not proceed past that point, it only requires monitoring of bp (by a professional, unless you are skilled at this). If you have the increased BP, heart palpitations, chest pains, severe HA that starts at the base of the skull and moves up and over the top of your head, emergency care is essential.
> MAOI rxn's can not only occur with food rxn's, but also with med rxn's and overdosage. The symptoms for all 3 are nearly identical.
> The most common high tyramine foods are: aged cheese (check the label, many are not aged), aged or pickled meats (ie: salami), yeast extracts, beer (dark is worst, on tap is bad, glass bottles are best as tyramine is absorbed into the glass...domestic beers in glass are lowest - avoid imported beers), red wine is higher than white wine, avocado, sauerkraut.
> Drugs can cause bad rxn's too: Meperidine (Demerol), Dextromethorphan (cough med), and epinephrine are 3 of the worst. Whenever in the hospital, I say I'm allergic to Demerol in addition to being on MAO. I also always check when the dentist is going to use novacaine...if it has black lettering it's without epinephrine, red lettering has epinephrine. I actually caught my dentist as the needle was approaching my mouth. This would cause an immediate rxn, and I doubt most dental offices are perfectly compliant with their CPR and emergency management skills.
> Hope this made more sense. Jen
poster:SLS
thread:35949
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37006.html