Meds Not to Mix: Your Guide to Taking OTC Drugs Safely

Chocolate and Antidepressants

Before you curse your sweet tooth, let us explain. Chocolate is typically safe when consumed with a majority of antidepressants. However, there is one classification that can potentially have a bad interaction. Dr. Michael Lowenstein, co-medical director of the Waismann Method, the pioneering treatment for opiate dependency, explains that monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) should not interact with large amounts of tyramine, a naturally occurring amino acid found in various foods. "Patients who are taking MAOIs should not consume foods with high levels of tyramine. Chocolate contains a small amount, but even so, patients taking MAOIs (such as Emsam) should be cautious," Lowenstein advises. If a large amount of chocolate is consumed along with MAOIs, there can be varying side-effects, including a sharp rise in blood pressure, increased headache, server nausea, and though rarely, death.