Posted by JonW on January 22, 2003, at 17:52:05
In reply to JonW: Question for You, posted by Jumpy on January 22, 2003, at 13:22:40
> Does he still feel nardil is the most potent medication for depression with severe anxiety? Or has been able to get the same results with other combinations?
Hi Jumpy,
He definitely feels Nardil is the most potent for social anxiety, but I'm not sure if he would say that about other forms of anxiety or not. It's my understanding that Nardil is very effective for Atypical Depression, SP, and Panic, but less effective for GAD. So I suppose it depends on what you mean by severe anxiety. To answer your second question, I'll say the following. He had me on Nardil for some time. It was effective, but I couldn't tolerate it. He's been able to give me the same results with a combination of newer meds and CBT. Actually, I would say even better results, but it wasn't a full trial of Nardil so... I'm sure you've heard it before, but there are many meds and combinations of meds to try so I wouldn't automatically assume that Nardil is the only answer to a given set of problems. I know it's a miracle drug for many, and when I asked Dr. Liebowitz about it over the phone once, he called it "special". If you read my posts I must sound like a broken record, but you should definitely consider combining a med that is atleast somewhat helpful with CBT. This combination can be a very real alternative to Nardil. It may even be superior to Nardil alone. Some people respond to medication alone, but most with severe illness (particularly if you have severe anxiety) fair best with a combination of medication and CBT. It's the best of both worlds. If you do live near NYC, you might want to consider the therapist Dr. L works with, Carla Daichman, as an adjunct to your current treatment. She's a lot more affordable but still not cheap($145), but she's definitely one of the best at what she does. Who knows, this might allow you to negotiate a more affordable rate with Dr. L. Just some thoughts... Unfortunately, you get what you pay for in this business and in my case it's made all the difference in the world. If there's any way you could afford Liebowitz or someone more affordable he might refer you to, definitely spend the money. When you're talking about your life, it's worth it. For 24 years, I never dreamed life could be this good and I'm still climbing. Dr. Liebowitz and Carla Daichman working together on my behalf has saved my life. Wow, I've kind of rambled off topic a bit.... oh well, good luck with everything, and if I can answer any more questions or be of any help in any way let me know.
Jon
poster:JonW
thread:137051
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030119/msgs/137093.html