Posted by Adam on June 13, 2000, at 10:25:40
In reply to MAOIs and beer (Adam?), posted by Diane E. on June 12, 2000, at 16:30:07
Hi, Diane,
I have very cautiously consumed both bottled and tap beer. I have yet to have a reaction. I have avoided certain beers because of suspicion, though I have little or no empirical evidence to support my suspicious.
This is what I will say before I list what I have tried below:
BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, etc.
Anyway (in no particular order):
Pete's Wicked Summer Brew: No problem, bottled.
Sam Adams Lager, Summer Ale, Winter Ale: No problem, bottled (or on tap, for the Lager).
Newcastle Brown Ale: No problem, bottled.
Shipyard (Dad's current favorite brand), different varieties (dark ale, IPA, stout): No problem, bottled.
Harpoon IPA: No problem, bottled.
Gritty McDuff's Blackfly Stout: No problem, bottled (not very tasty bottled, though).
Bud Light: No problem, bottled.
Corona: No problem, bottled.I think that's about it. On no occasion have I consumed more than two bottles over the course of an entire evening.
I have actually eaten two slices of pepperoni pizza from Papa Gino's and had a bottle of Corona (we have these "happy hours" on Fridays after work, with the usual poor food and drink selection), took my b.p. about four hours later, and there was no significant change.
I have eaten a Greek salad with feta cheese on it and those awesome olives, and had a glass of Chardonnay right afteward (don't remember which brand), checked myself a few hours later, and nothing.
Now, one day I ate a piece of chicken that had been sitting in the fridge for three days. It was cold and did not appear spoiled in any way. Within a few hours I had a throbbing headache and could barely tilt my head back. My heart seemed to be skipping a beat or something (though I think it was just bradycardia). My b.p. was about 180/110, which is awfully high for me. I felt it, I knew there was a problem, and my reading confirmed it. I'm assuming it was the chicken, and by this I also assume I am sensitive to some amount of tyramine. I conclude that the things I ate and drank above had less tyramine in them. It is possible that my b.p. has risen as a result of my food consumption, but not to the point that I noticed it.
I have thought of doing actual tests, where I drank a bottle of beer X and then did a time course experiment for changes in b.p. However, this would require a free evening, which I feel like I haven't had in a bajillion years. I may still do it though.
Keep in mind, I always have someone around. I wear a medic-alert necklace. I keep money in pocket in case I have to go to the ER, and make sure someone who knows can take me. I check b.p. whenever I can.
My conclusions, overall: Again, be careful. But, with some hesitation, I believe that with prudence one can enjoy a pretty normal diet on an MAOI without anything really bad happening. However, ALWAYS take precautions, and don't push your luck. I'm not going to be having any meals of fondu or chianti, knowhatimean?
> I have been reading old posts about MAOI food restrictions and diet. I would like to know more about people's
> experiences/information about various types of beer and MAOIs.
> In different places I have read:
> domestic may be okay, but imported is not
> bottled may be okay, but tap is not
> only beers "known to be safe" are okay
>
> What are people's experiences with these rules? Does domestic literally refer to country of origin or does
> it really refer to American style lager (e.g., Coors, Bud)? In other words, would American micro-brews fall
> into the domestic or imported category? How would one "know" a beer to be safe? Is there an ingredient or
> brewing process that makes some more likely to be problematic than others?
>
> Adam....I remember reading a while back that you were a lover of good beer and about to start oral MAOIs.
> How is it going? What have you learned?
>
> Fear not, I realize that no one can promise me anything and that the safest bet is to avoid beer all together. I
> am just trying to get a better understanding these distinctions.
>
> Thanks for any input.
> Diane
poster:Adam
thread:37074
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37154.html