MAOIs & Alcohol

[mitragyna]

Fermented alcohol is contraindicated for use with MAOI-type drugs. I am on Nardil and have indeed noticed side-effects from these fermented beverages, especially beer.

According to the literature, if you are taking an MAOI, you should stick to neutral spirits. Can someone list a neutral spirit or non-fermented alcoholic beverage other than Vodka? I'm getting quite sick of drinking Vodka everytime I want to go to the bar.

Thanks for your help!

 

[MeaCulpa]

Don't take my word on this, check if I'm right with a pharmacist or you prescriber. Clear rum ought to be safe. The problem with MAOis is they interact with so many things and I think the list of stuff that interacts with them is probably far from complete. The clear "moonshine" whiskeys are chemically less complicated than whisky that has been aged in casks so you might ask an expert what they think about them also. Moderation is encouraged when drinking anything with Nardil, you could get unexpected extra sedation, unexpected low blood pressure, and of course you really trying to make sure that no mixers or components of spirits set off a hypertensive crisis.

Gin is almost always considered a neutral spirit flavored primarily with juniper but often having other components like orris root. Since liquors don't list those other components I think I wouldn't do gin with Nardil.

Edit: if you were told neutral spirits only, I'm learning that that is pretty much vodka or vodka flavored with things known to be safe with MAOis. Apparently neutral spirit means alcohol that has gone through enough cycles of distillation that what remains is almost entirely alcohol and water. Sorry for offering bad guesses above. I do think you might be able to find an online or irl expert who might have some suggestions about some other things likely to be safe. When I was on Nardil in 1993 white wine, rum, and whisky were allowed in moderation. Chianti was absolutely prohibited. Red wines and beers were discouraged. The database of bad interactions was smaller then.