Posted by janeS on June 27, 2000, at 20:31:22
In reply to harry b. needs New Meds.........MAOIs??? , posted by harry b. on June 27, 2000, at 17:28:42
> that she would just 'space out' in the middle of
> a sentence or while eating. She told me she was not
> capable of driving her car. She blamed these effects
> on the Parnate.
>
> Can anyone who has used or is familiar with MAOIs
> educate me on them?
>
> Have they helped you, and how? Would you recommend
> trying them? Are they fast acting or does it take
> weeks/months for the levels to build and to see if
> the trial is effective or not?
>
> What are the side effects? Sedation, cognative
> dulling, confusion, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, hypersomnia,
> tremors, GI distress, weight gain/loss? any info
> you can give me will be appreciated.
>
> I realize I ask a lot. Many thanks to anyone
> who can help out.
> hbHB:
Hello, I'm fairly new here but I have had a good experience with an MAOI, specifically, Nardil. Initially, due in large part to my high anxiety level, I was completely terrified. I just knew that I would eat the wrong thing and die. As it turns out, I remained on Nardil and Xanax for well over 4 years. Sorry, I don't remember the mg's of Nardil...but they were orange and I took one 2x per day and 1mg of Xanax.
Since I am one of those types that ANY med will make sleepy, we switched from morning dosage to evening. Also, I was about 50 pounds overweight and, overtime, I realized I was losing weight...slowly, but without any effort of my own. I had no GI upsets, which I am most prone to do. I experienced no cognitive dulling, in fact, I had never felt sharper; no sexual dysfunction(!); and no tremors. (I think I've addressed everything.) Anyway, after being on Nardil for about a month I felt like a new person. I was productive, energetic and creative-- quite a switch from the slug I had become prior.
As you may know, before you go on ANY MAOI, you have to come off any AD you may be on...and once you've come off you can't take the MAOI for two full weeks...supposedly to lessen the chances for negative interactions.
I kept in mind what my p-doc told me: if it 'bleeds or grows out of the ground' I could eat it. Well, after memorizing the MAOI diet list, I found it was much easier than I would have thought...though I did have to give up some of my favorite foods...some pizza, pickles, pepperoni, some cheeses, etc.
When you go to the supermarket you realize how very little you have to give up. When cooking I did not use MSG but I did not hesitate to order in Chinese...so some of the warning may be similar to the results of the studies in mice...you know...are we EVER going to consume that amount?!
I was on Nardil for about 4 years and I felt so much better, because it has a a good anti-anxiety agent, I felt it was worth the extra effort to remember/question my special diet...and if you really want to get healthy, staying off these kinds of foods is better for you anyway.
The downside here, for me, was that it pooped-out on me after about 4 years...and now I am in that trial and error mode again...but I wish you lots of luck!
Jane
poster:janeS
thread:38343
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000619/msgs/38497.html