4 replies to this topic

[unitaz]

Does the warning for MAOI conflicts still apply when taking 5mg selegine (or 1mg liquid Deprenyl) and a antihistamine like pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Obviously to Parkinson's patients this would apply, and so I would assume this is to whom the warning was aimed, but what about low dose? Does anyone have any experience? If so, what do others take for severe colds while using Deprenyl?
Thanks All

[rabagley]

I take deprenyl 5mg/week for neuroprotective effects, and occasionally an additional 5mg on a day that I want to be "on". I've also taken "on the box" doses of pseudoephedrine for congestion with no notable negative side effects, but I have tried to avoid taking any pseudoephedrine within 24 hours of any deprenyl.

[graatch]

Importantly, pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine aren't antihistamines like benadryl -- they are sympathomimetic amines used as decongestants.

If you've been taking the dose for a while and inhibition is spilling over into MAO-A at all, this could really result in some problems. I'd generally try and avoid this, although I don't think you'll die or anything. You could get nervous or jittery.

OTOH a low dose of antihistamine (like benadryl or meclizine, not so much dramamine since it contains theophylline in the molecule) is probably not going to give you too many problems. At higher doses, the SSRI effects (for instance) of diphenhydramine start to become more pronounced, so avoid.

[rabagley]

At < 20mg/day, oral deprenyl remains a selective MAO-B inhibitor, so the original poster with a dose of 5mg oral selegiline per day (or equivalent sublingual dose) should not have any MAO-A inhibition.

[graatch]

> At < 20mg/day, oral deprenyl remains a selective MAO-B inhibitor,

The very reasonable theory is that, being as the MAO-B inhibition is irreversible, eventually a daily dose could spill over into hitting MAO-A.

Regardless, MAO-B inhibition WILL retard the metabolism of both pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. Dangerous.

Actually phenylephrine might be less problematic being as it's a direct agonist.

It sucks though.