Posted by Timidly on October 5, 2002, at 20:32:16
In reply to Re: Nardil and Gaba » JohnX2, posted by Ritch on May 9, 2002, at 0:07:22
> > Scott (SLS) on another thread mentioned that Nardil also inhibits
> > GABA transaminase.
> >
> > Does this mean that Nardil in anyway effects the
> > seizure threshold? Also, does this in any way imply
> > that Nardil is less likely to induce cycling for a bipolar
> > patient?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > John
>
> Great question John! I have never taken any MAOI's. Historically speaking, Nardil has had a very good track record with panic disorder and phobias as well as being an effective antidepressant. The idea you bring up makes me wonder if *many* BPII folks with comorbid anx. disorders might do OK with Nardil monotherapy (??).
>
> MitchTo add a data point I'll share my experience with
seizures while on Nardil. I've been taking Nardil
for 25+ years. About 3 years ago I started having
seizures. They started out quite severe by my
perception, the neurologist classified them as
'complex partial seizures'. They then gradually
diminished in severity over time. For the first
year or so I had clusters of 2-3 seizures in 3-5
days, recurring about every other month. Then they
gradually become more frequent, but less severe,
over 2 years leveling off at 2 to 3 seizures every
week. They stopped after about 3 years when I
switched from Ritalin to Metadate (a time released
form of Ritalin). Over that three year period
several full neurological, medical, and
psychiatric workups were done, along with blood
tests, CT scans, MRIs, EEGs, sleep studies, etc.
All the results were either "normal" or "with
findings consistent with my age". The conclusion
reached by the Neurologist, Internist, and
Psychiatrist was that I had a seizure disorder
resulting from severe head trauma (7 years ago)
aggravated by psychotropic medications which
lowered my seizure threshold.Seeing the Neurologist had the fringe benefit
of giving me the fancy medical term "myoclonic
seizure" to describe the "twitching" which
resulted from my 1982 ECT treatments.The following are the medications I was taking
during that time period.Nardil 120 mg/day
Ritalin 60 mg/day (seizures stopped when replaced by Metadate ER 60 mg/day)
Cytomel 12.5 mcg/day (recently discontinued)
Ambien 10 mg/day (recently replaced by Trazodone 150 mg/day)
Allegra 180 mg/day
Beconase AQ Nasal Spray Inhaler 0.042% (4*)/nostril/day---------------
poster:Timidly
thread:105656
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/122469.html