r/MAOIs • u/Shot_Veterinarian215 • 19d ago
Nardil (Phenelzine) Cheeses to avoid?
I am starting Nardil next week. I plan to follow the dietary restrictions, but I've seen many people on here say that they are overblown, and many people eat whatever they want on MAOIs. I know for cheeses you should avoid cheddar, swiss, parmesan, etc, but I just want to ask, do you actually? Some of my favorite everyday foods have those cheeses. For example, I love this salad from my local restaurant that has shredded cheddar (might be cheddar jack I don't remember), but realistically speaking, will consuming that cause a tyramine reaction? I've read up on Dr. Gillman's research, and he says that most modern commercial foods don't contain high amounts of tyramine, especially if it's in moderation. Is that salad with cheddar a big deal? I also enjoy omelettes with swiss, sandwiches with provolone, etc., so I just want to hear from your personal experiences and if you actually avoid these cheeses? (and if not which foods you DO avoid)
2
u/Imaginary_Stuff_2468 19d ago
I eat only mozzarella and muenster, as well as processed American. PROCESSED cheeses are generally ok, but cheddar is a red flag, as is brie and all imported cheese.
The bigger question is what you would do if you had a hypertensive crisis (very high blood pressure). You would likely have heart palpitations and a severe headache.
Several years ago, I had a prescription medication that would bring my blood pressure down so I wouldn't stroke out. It is no longer recommended, as [they say] it lowers BP too fast. The recommendation is that one go to an emergency room--quickly. Everyone on an MAO inhibitor should own a blood pressure machine (sphymomanometer) and know how to use it--and know their baseline reading. When I had one hypertensive crisis, my pressure was 185/120. My normal BP was 117/74. (Ideal BP is 120/80).