MAOI DIET AND PRECAUTIONS

The following foods are high in Tyramine and must be avoided absolutely: Aged cheeses: usually these cheeses are strong-smelling and have an intense flavor: Cheddar (esp. Tasty and Vintage), Stilton, Blue cheese, Fetta, Parmesan, Gruyre, some cheese spreads, Muenster, Gorgonzola, Limburger, Romano, etc. Summer sausage", which includes many lunch meats such as salami, mortadella, any air-dried sausage, bologna. Any meat or other high-protein food which is not fresh or where the flavor has been changed by aging. Avoid beef jerky sticks. Marmite, Vegemite or Promite concentrated yeast extracts and certain other dietary supplements containing yeast proteins. Sauerkraut Commercial beef bouillon products and beef stock Broad bean pods are to be avoided due to dopamine content Beer which is on tap, locally or home brewed, even if alcohol-free Tofu

The following foods are possibly safe when limited amounts are taken and should be tried cautiously if at all: Such mild cheeses as Emmenthal, Brie, Cambozola, Camembert Smoked meat, corned beef, kielbasa, liverwurst Pat Soya sauce and Tamari Commercial bottled or canned beer, wine, sherry, Dubonnet Caffeine and chocolate N.B. - Commercially-prepared foods in general (especially ethnic foods) must be viewed with suspicion due to complex mixtures of ingredients and unknown freshness. Check the ingredients and expiry date carefully.

The following foods have been restricted in previously published MAOI diets, but, based on recent research, are probably safe in normal quantities: Such bland cheeses as Boursin, ricotta, mozzarella, processed sliced mild cheese, Bonbel, and cream cheese Pickled herring (as long as the brine is rinsed off), roe, sardines, smoked fish Smoked sausage, sweet Italian sausage, pepperoni Bananas, avocados, raisins, figs Yoghurt and sour cream (but only highly processed bland commercial brands kept refrigerated and eaten soon after purchase when fresh) t, Pizzas from McDonald' s, Pizza Hu and Domino' s Worcestershire sauce

The following medications or drugs can interact very seriously with MAOIs and must be avoided entirely: Most cold and cough preparations All nasal decongestants Most hay-fever or allergy medications Most sinus medications Most asthma medications L-Tryptophan Other antidepressants (with rare exceptions) Demerol (Meperedine) Guanethidine Injectable local anesthetics containing epinephrine Medications for Attention Deficit Disorder or Hyperactivity (Ritalin etc.) Most medications for Parkinson' s Disease Amino-acid diet supplements (care with any muscle-building diet supplements) Methyldopa-containing medications (for hypertension) BuSpar (buspirone) Carbamazepine (Tegretol), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) Tramadol (Ultram) Sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig) Zyban (bupropion) Cocaine also called "crack" All diet pills Amphetamines also called pure, speed or "uppers"

IN CASE OF SEVERE HEADACHE OR OTHER SUDDEN ILLNESS, GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION A Medic-Alert ID bracelet or pendant is recommended for your protection. It should state "MAOI Therapy" The above precautions must be continued for two weeks after stopping MAOI therapy