Posted by Tori on November 15, 2000, at 1:27:12
In reply to Re: Parnate and Caffeine - restricted? FATIGUE! » Tori, posted by SLS on November 6, 2000, at 17:42:29
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> > I have been on Parnate now for almost two months; augmented with Lamictal 150 mg bid (thavee been taking since late February).
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> 450mg of Lamictal for the treatment of bipolar depression is very high. < < snipped > >I'm only on 300 mg a day and have been since late February, not 450.
> I think it is critical that you take medication to get some sleep, even if you don't use it every day. I would first look into trying trazodone (Desyrel). < < snipped > >
I'm allergic to trazodone and found out the bad way -- thunderclap headaches -- not fun!
> I would also not hesitate to use a benzodiazepine (Halcion, Ativan, Restoril) or one of the newer drugs (Ambien, Sonata).
I have a high tolerance for meds and become easily addicted to benzos where I have to take a higher dosage to get the same effect. I stopped the Restoril; tried Zoplicone (didn't work); right now I'm at a lower dosage of Parnate (see my post near the end), 20 mg, and it has changed things -- although I am drowsy during the evening as long as I stay awake I can sleep through the night, most of the time without the 6 to 10 mg of clonazepam.
> Caffeine is one of those foods that is of questionable significance. The NIH let me drink regular coffee while I was taking an MAOI that is much more potent than Parnate. However, Parnate is somewhat amphetamine-like. You may find that caffeine makes you feel nervous and otherwise uncomfortable. It doesn't for me.
Maybe I should try a half a cup at first to see if it causes any problems. I normally didn't drink coffee that much but the urge now is pretty bad.
> > I frequently (well, for me every ttwo weeks is enough for me) go hypertensive out of the blue - 170/110, etc, after usualy being HYPO at 80/60 - not because of something I ate or meds I took, just out of the blue (smoking?).
> Parnate is known to be capable of this. I don't know if smoking would trigger the event. How do you know when you are hypertensive for you to take your blood pressure?My throat/chest feels extremely tight; or I will develop a sudden intense headache.
> I think you would be better off taking 20mg in the morning, 10mg at noon, and 10mg at 3:00pm.
Now I'm at 20@ 6 a.m., from 40 originally. I hope that if it works at this dose that I will stay with it, in conjunction with my psychiatrists visits, to get better.
> > Anybody else out there able to take caffeine? Should I slowly start with a small cup to see what it causes, then if all hell breaks loose take my Adalat to reduce the BP?
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> What is Adalat?Adalat is a anti-hypertensive drug - I'm in Canada so maybe it's under a different name elsewhere. 30 to 60 mg usually works as needed.
The food restrictions list you supplied was 14 years old; I have been consulting more recent lists; even items that are deemed OK cause hypertension in me. So pretty much my diet is bland, but I'm losing weight now! :-)
Thanks Scott :-)
poster:Tori
thread:48056
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001102/msgs/48838.html