Interaction of Eldepryl with other drugs is a recurrent topic, a little
confusing because we are talking about four different classes of drugs.
Here is a try to boil down to one page, gleanings from PDR and elsewhere:
MAO (Monoamine oxidase) is the body's natural defense against overstim-
ulation by dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline (all products of
levodopa, by the way). There are two kinds of MAO: MAO-A in adrenals,
heart, liver, and other organs; and MAO-B in the brain. Two kinds of
MAO- inhibitors: nonselective and MAO-B only. The nonselective are used
against severe depression. The MAO-B inhibitor (Eldepryl) is used as an
antioxidant in PD. Nonselective MAO inhibitors are dangerous by them-
selves (Parnate was off the market for a while), as well as in combin-
ation with levodopa or any of the opioid anaesthetics. Eldepryl is safe
by itself or with levodopa, so long as dosage is small enough to remain
selective. However it is dangerous in any amount when combined with an
opioid such as Demerol. I hope this, with the table below, clarifies
things a bit.
Nonselective (MAO-A, -B) Selective (MAO-B)
inhibitors: Parnate, inhibitor: Eldepryl
Eutonyl, Nardil
Taken alone Hypertension, heart Safe in limited dose
attack, hemorrhagic
stroke
With levodopa (Sinemet, Hypertension, heart Safe in limited dose
Madopar) attack, hemorrhagic
stroke
With opioid anaesthetic Hyper-or hypotension, Stupor, rigidity,
(e.g., Demerol) convulsions, fever, fever, agitation,
agitation, death death
Cheers, Joe
J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694
3527 Cody Road
Sherman Oaks CA 91403
