Tyramine in food and Rasagiline/Selegiline

[Trenny]

Continuing my previous post on these drugs, has anyone had any problems with food interactions? I do not fancy having to cut pizzas and cheese from my diet.

[wifeofparky]

I my husband was on selegiline for several years. While we did not cut those foods out, it was not a steady diet for him and he suffered no side effects when he did.

[Hikoi]

You don't have to adjust diet unless like any meds you have problems. Diet restrictions are for higher doses than we take.

[Btsnipes]

I have not, but I do not eat at least an hour before or after taking my meds.

[paddyfields]

As I understand it this is a theoretical problem which in practice rarely happens. I checked my understanding just now and apparently " There is no need to avoid most foods and beverages during treatment with rasagiline (Azilect), as long as you are not receiving more than 1 mg per day of the medication. However, certain foods such as some of the aged cheeses (for example, Boursault, Liederkrantz, Mycella, and Stilton) may contain very high amounts of tyramine and should generally be avoided if possible. Consumption of very high levels of tyramine (greater than 150 mg) while on rasagiline treatment may lead to dangerous increases in your blood pressure, a condition known as hypertensive crisis." I had not come across the fact that some foods have exceptionally high amounts of tyramine despppite my several years of googling. and I do like the odd "smelly" cheese and am on 1 mg Azilect. Just shows how useful these patient sites are.

[Hikoi]

The Teva (drug co who make Rasageline) advice for UK patients, no mention of tyramine

xpil.medicines.org.uk/files...

The Teva USA version

iodine.com/drug/azilect/fda...

Take your pick!

[JohnPepper]

Hi Trenny. I was on Selegiline for 8 years. I had blood pressure problems as a result. I was not warned that Selegiline also inhibits the breakdown of tyramine, which is the actual cause of the raised blood pressure. I stopped taking the selegiline for 6 months, before going back onto it for a while longer.

I found that eating warmed-up food was my biggest source of tyramine. Yes, mature cheese can also provide a lot of tyramine but pizza does not use mature cheese.

You'll find that you can eat your pizza and take selegiline as well.

John

[justaninconvenience in reply to JohnPepper]

John - i was blessed w gr8 low BP all my life but now am faced w even lower danger hi blood P due to my sinemet. Fludro cort did not help & now i will swear tht mododrisine is not helping or even worse? HELP?

[JohnPepper in reply to justaninconvenience]

Hi Trenny. Are you sure the high BP is caused by the sinemet?

John

[Trenny in reply to JohnPepper]

John - why have you replied to me (Trenny)? I am Trenny and didn't write to you in this thread. I am not sure what has happened?

[p-oui in reply to JohnPepper]

John, I have just started Selegiline and am considering Azilect. After 4 days Selegiline has improved my mild tremor (I am newly diagnosed). I would love to hear your general feedback regarding Selegiline. I want to be careful not to have any drug to drug interactions. For example, sinus medicine. There is a lot of info to sort through.

[JohnPepper in reply to p-oui]

Hi oiur. Have you read my book, "Reverse Parkinson's Dsiease", which gives all the info you require? I did not chane from Selegiline to Rasagiline (Azilect) so cannot give you any help o that one. They are similar to each other, so should not cause problems, but that is just my feeling.

John

[Trenny]

Many thanks. I'll stop worrying!