Posted by cubbybear on April 12, 2003, at 5:49:39
In reply to Important but less common MAOI questions. Please?, posted by Questionmark on April 10, 2003, at 1:20:00
I've had 18 years of experience with Parnate for major depression and anxiety, so let me jump into the discussion here. I can help with some of your questions.
> 2) For those who have been on one a long time (multiple years), did it work well for you for all that time? i know they're often quite beneficial for awhile at first, but i wonder if there's some kind of brain adaptation or anything that can occur and result in "poop out" or whatever.
I went through phases, in which, let's say, I'd stay on regular daily doses for 3 years or more. No poopout. No loss of efficacy. The drug is a trusted, reliable friend and lifesaver.
How was your memory and cognitive faculties with an MAOI?
I never noticed a problemHere's an important one. If you were ever on awhile and quit, was the withdrawal pretty bad? How long were you on it, what dose, how long off?
I was on it for many months or years at a stretch. When I decided I wanted to try a "drug holiday", I did a gradual phaseout from my dose of 40 mg to zero over a period of about 3-4 weeks. I never experienced any withdrawal problems while tapering off. I did notice a change in my sleep patterns however, after it was out of my system.
>
What side effects remained even as time went on?No side effects remained after I went off it.
What if any made you quit? Were there any subtle side effects that really bothered you?
In my case, side effects were occasional low blood pressure or light-headedness, mostly at the beginning; increased craving for sweets and carbohydrates which led to weight gain (which I desperately needed), and dry mouth sometimes. None of these side effects were a problem
>
> 8) Can one go on an MAOI for awhile and then quit without having to suffer from more severe depression and whatever else? I.e., how long do withdrawal-type effects last?
You're really asking two different kinds of questions here. The first relates to a RECURRENCE of depression. As is the case with numerous people, after you've had your first depressive episode, the odds increase that you will have another one, and the odds keep increasing, so these days doctors are (rightfully) recommending continuous use of anti-depressants to prevent recurrences or relapse. Your second question concerns withdrawal symptoms, which I never had upon discontinuation (e.g. such as one would experience trying to quit taking narcotics).>
>... If i take a drug that makes me a happier person, a better person, a more hopeful and confident and naive person, and one who can be more easily satisfied with life, then this person is not really me then right? i become someone who i am not.
I believe it's quite the contrary. When you're depressed, you are NOT yourself. Your neurochemistry has become imbalanced and you cannot enjoy life. By taking a pill, you are helping to restore the proper chemical balance. Think of it as analogous to a diabetic who must take insulin to maintain proper sugar levels in the blood. Taking the insulin doesn't change him/her into someone "different.">
If they are irreversible inhibitors or MAO, why is it necessary to take it more than once a day? Does it make much difference if you just took it once/ day?
The idea of "irreversible" has nothing to do with whether you take one, two or three pills. It's a complex medical topic unrelated to dosages.
And I strongly advise you--do NOT take only one pill a day. It will do nothing for you. Two pills (20 mg. probably won't do much either). According to the manufacturer, 30 mg./day is the "standard" dose. I take 40 mg. with no problems and the safe maximum is actually 60 mg.
Good luck and be patient. .it takes a few weeks to kick in, i.e. for the full benefits to be obtained.
poster:cubbybear
thread:218087
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030411/msgs/218739.html