Posted by Donna Louise on May 10, 2006, at 21:41:30
In reply to Re: Triptans and MAOIs » Donna Louise, posted by ed_uk on May 10, 2006, at 9:43:02
> >I thought the reason you couldn't take a triptan with an MAOI is because the triptan (drug) needed the MAO to deamimate it and my brain would be rife with triptans.
>
> The interaction between MAOIs and rizatriptan seems to be the greatest. Nevertheless, when rizatriptan was given with moclobemide (an MAOI) in a clinical study, no unusual side effects occured, despite the increased blood levels of rizatriptan. Still, I would not recommend combining rizatriptan with an MAOI, because the blood level of rizatriptan is significantly increased.
>
> MAOIs don't affect the metabolism of Axert very much at all. RE the interaction between moclobemide (an MAOI) and Axert, the manufacturer of Axert says:
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> 'No clinically significant interactions were observed'
>
> Almotriptan (Axert) seems like a good choice for two reasons:
>
> 1. The blood level of almotriptan is only slightly increased by MAOIs.
>
> 2. Almotriptan does not enter the brain in significant quantities. This might theoretically reduce the risk of a 'central' interaction between almotriptan and MAOIs, although there is no evidence that such an interaction can occur. Triptans work on the blood vessels, not on the brain itself. Some triptans (eg. sumatriptan and almotriptan) do not enter the brain. Other triptans (eg. eletriptan) enter the brain much more readily.
>
> Edok, so if it is ok to take Axert as it does not enter the brain, does it follow that it is ok to imitrex also since it does not enter the brain either? I also noticed on your original list of triptans ok to take was eletriptan but now you say it enters the brain more quickly than the other. Can I assume that I can't take that one either even though it is on the ok to take list? I should look each one up individually although I already did that with Axert and I could just start with that one and see if it is effective. I haven't had a headace in a few days now, maybe the patch will solve the problem..but I have gone weeks without one before just to get hit with a wave of them that just won't quit.
I sure appreciate all your help and info with this Ed.Donna
poster:Donna Louise
thread:641231
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060510/msgs/642394.html