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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Girlnterrupted78 on August 13, 2007, at 23:35:55
I was wondering if anyone knows whether fish oil can be combined with an MAOI?
I've been reading on this subject, and found a lot of information on the positive effects of fish oil in mental health. There are several studies to account for this.
Some of the studies (published in the American Psychiatric Journal and such) were done with depressed people who were already on an antidepressant, but who were still depressed. The patients were administered fish oil along with their antidepressant, and the result was significant improvement in their mood.
The studies don't mention what antidepressants are being used, but there have been six double-blind placebo controlled trials, five of which show significant improvement.
http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1635I believe fish is not a prohibited food contraindicated with MAOIs, but I have no idea about fish oil. I also don't know what kind of effect in the brain receptors/neurotransmitters this combination might have.
If anybody knows anything about taking fish oil along with Nardil or Parnate, I'd really appreciate any info.
Thank you,
GI78
Posted by Jedi on August 14, 2007, at 0:54:06
In reply to Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI?, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on August 13, 2007, at 23:35:55
Hi GI78,
Fish oil is not contraindicated with MAOIs. I take 90mg of Nardil, 1800mg of EPA and 1200mg of DHA on a daily basis.
Take care,
Jedi
> I was wondering if anyone knows whether fish oil can be combined with an MAOI?
>
> I've been reading on this subject, and found a lot of information on the positive effects of fish oil in mental health. There are several studies to account for this.
>
> Some of the studies (published in the American Psychiatric Journal and such) were done with depressed people who were already on an antidepressant, but who were still depressed. The patients were administered fish oil along with their antidepressant, and the result was significant improvement in their mood.
>
> The studies don't mention what antidepressants are being used, but there have been six double-blind placebo controlled trials, five of which show significant improvement.
> http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1635
>
> I believe fish is not a prohibited food contraindicated with MAOIs, but I have no idea about fish oil. I also don't know what kind of effect in the brain receptors/neurotransmitters this combination might have.
>
> If anybody knows anything about taking fish oil along with Nardil or Parnate, I'd really appreciate any info.
>
> Thank you,
> GI78
>
>
Posted by girlnterrupted78 on August 14, 2007, at 5:07:21
In reply to Re: Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI? » Girlnterrupted78, posted by Jedi on August 14, 2007, at 0:54:06
Thank you for the info, Jedi. Was that combination prescribed by your pdoc, or did you formulate it on your own?
Is your pdoc aware of this, and what does he say about it?
And last, is it making any difference in your depression? How long does it take to make a difference?
(Btw, I bought a whole big bottle of fish oil a year ago while I was on Celexa. I had a tbsp daily, and I never felt a difference. I find that very strange and discouraging, but I'm willing to give it a second try since I don't know if I could have been doing something wrong.)
Thank you again,
GI78
Posted by Quintal on August 14, 2007, at 5:22:21
In reply to Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI?, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on August 13, 2007, at 23:35:55
I took fish oil with Parnate and had no problems. There's no reason to think there would be problems. If it doesn't work for you, then it's probably best not take it, though fish oil is beneficial to your general health even if you feel no effect on your mood.
What is your diagnosis BTW?
Q
Posted by girlnterrupted78 on August 14, 2007, at 5:45:59
In reply to Re: Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI? » Girlnterrupted78, posted by Quintal on August 14, 2007, at 5:22:21
So you took it with Parnate? How did you fare? Did it make a difference? Did your mood improve at all?
As for me, I don't know if I didn't take it long enough. I just bought the big bottle and finished it having 1tbsp daily.
My diagnosis is treatment-resistant atypical depression. I used to have social anxiety, but I don't think I have it anymore, except in performance situations.
Celexa pooped out on me after a year of successful treatment, so now I'm on 60mgs Nardil (9th week.)
Posted by Quintal on August 14, 2007, at 6:01:30
In reply to Re: Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI? » Quintal, posted by girlnterrupted78 on August 14, 2007, at 5:45:59
I've been taking fish oil since ~July 2004 and took Parnate for a short while in 2006. Under the influence of fish oil I'm of the impression that my moods are more stable and my thinking and memory clearer and more efficient, but of course that could just be the placebo effect. I keep taking it because I have had no adverse effects (apart from the occasional seal burp) and the beneficial effects it is said to have on general health. Parnate worked for me at high doses, but my doctor refused to prescribe those doses long-term.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on August 14, 2007, at 11:38:59
In reply to Re: Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI? » girlnterrupted78, posted by Quintal on August 14, 2007, at 6:01:30
Took fish oil for many years But I wasn't depressed yes anxious wonder if it had an effect? Maybe I should take it again I have Carlson's supposed to be high quality. Phillipa
Posted by FredPotter on August 14, 2007, at 16:01:43
In reply to Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI?, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on August 13, 2007, at 23:35:55
I've taken fish oil and haven't noticed any antidepressant effect. Primarily I now take it for heart health. I suppose you never know if it's working but only if it fails to work. From someone who performed one of the studies I learned that the results were negative on depression but had some effect on bipolar disorder
Fred
Posted by blueboy on August 18, 2007, at 8:18:16
In reply to Re: Can Fish Oil be taken with an MAOI? » Girlnterrupted78, posted by Jedi on August 14, 2007, at 0:54:06
Me too. I took 80 mg of Nardil and the same dosage of salmon oil daily for years. (I'm off the Nardil now.)
A shortage of DHA or EPA could definitely cause deficient nerve/brain function. However, the efficacy of omega-3's as a treatment for mental health problems is very much unproven, IMO.
More important, the beneficial effects of DHA and EPA on cardiovascular health are enormous and well-researched. I am constantly amazed at the failure of US doctors to insist on their patients taking salmon oil. I realize how unreliable anecdotal evidence is, but personally, my overall serum cholesterol went from 210 to 146 when I started taking it, with no other apparent changes in diet, lifestyle, medication, etc.
If you are male and not taking DHA, you are shortening your life expectancy; flaxseed just isn't going to help very much. Estimates of conversion of short-chain omega-3 to DHA in men run as low as 0%. Women can convert ALA to DHA better (apparently because they need to produce it for breast milk), but why not take the real thing?
> Hi GI78,
> Fish oil is not contraindicated with MAOIs. I take 90mg of Nardil, 1800mg of EPA and 1200mg of DHA on a daily basis.
> Take care,
> Jedi
>
>
> > I was wondering if anyone knows whether fish oil can be combined with an MAOI?
> >
> > I've been reading on this subject, and found a lot of information on the positive effects of fish oil in mental health. There are several studies to account for this.
> >
> > Some of the studies (published in the American Psychiatric Journal and such) were done with depressed people who were already on an antidepressant, but who were still depressed. The patients were administered fish oil along with their antidepressant, and the result was significant improvement in their mood.
> >
> > The studies don't mention what antidepressants are being used, but there have been six double-blind placebo controlled trials, five of which show significant improvement.
> > http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1635
> >
> > I believe fish is not a prohibited food contraindicated with MAOIs, but I have no idea about fish oil. I also don't know what kind of effect in the brain receptors/neurotransmitters this combination might have.
> >
> > If anybody knows anything about taking fish oil along with Nardil or Parnate, I'd really appreciate any info.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > GI78
> >
> >
>
>
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