Posted by Tomatheus on November 9, 2005, at 21:01:18
In reply to Re: Moclobemide?, posted by Phillipa on November 9, 2005, at 20:16:39
Phillipa,
It's a reversible inhibitor of MAO-A. With irreversible MAOIs, such as Nardil and Parnate, it is my understanding that the drug permanently binds to the MAO in the brain and elsewhere in the body. So, even if serotonin and norepinephrine reach dangerously high levels, the irreversible MAOIs will not detach themselves from the MAO enzymes. With reversible inhibitors, the drug is able to detach itself from the MAO enzymes under certain conditions (I believe it's when norepinephrine levels get too high). So, if a patient consumes enough tyramine to trigger a hypertensive crisis on Nardil or Parnate, the same amount of tyramine is supposed to have only a negligible effect on the patient's blood pressure. Patients are still warned against consuming ultra-excessive amounts of tyramine-containing foods while taking moclobemide, but the drug is basically considered tyramine-safe.
Moclobemide generally tends to be less effective than both Nardil and Parnate, and it is not available in the United States (allegedly because of "commercial reasons"). Americans can order moclobemide from certain online pharmacies (as I did), but of course, I can't say here on PB exactly which site I got it from.
Tomatheus
poster:Tomatheus
thread:577030
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051106/msgs/577271.html