Posted by King Vultan on June 28, 2004, at 12:21:12
In reply to Is Anyone Doing Ok on Nardil for Depression, posted by Steven B on June 28, 2004, at 8:30:03
I've been on Nardil since March 1 and have no experience with the old formulation. I am on 90 mg/day and have experienced a significant antidepressant and anti-anxiety effect and would say this is the best of the ten or so meds I've tried. Unmedicated, I have a difficult time functioning because of depression and a debilitating social phobia. I would rate the Nardil at this dosage as good for antidepressant efficacy and superior on social phobia.
There is one school of thought on Nardil that to assure that a sufficient trial has been conducted, one needs to take 1 mg/day per kilogram of body weight (I believe this originates from the days of the old formulation). I am approximately 150 pounds, so for me, 150 pounds divided by 2.2 pounds per kilogram gives a result of 68 mg/day. This was my experience at different dosages:
45 mg/day no adverse or therapeutic effects
60 mg/day adverse effects only (mainly insomnia)
75 mg/day some therapeutic effects with continuing insomnia, blood pressure and heart rate drop
90 mg/day more therapeutic effects with a bit more adverse effects, such as feeling cold, some twitching, some constipation
The two biggest problems for me have been insomnia and blood pressure/heart rate. For sleep, I am currently alternating between 0.125 mg Halcion one night and 50 mg Benadryl the next, as well as utilizing a sleep/relaxation CD both nights. This is giving me about six hours of sleep, which is about an hour or so less than normal but seems sufficient, agreeing with the thought I have seen repeated elsewhere that the MAOIs do seem to reduce the need for sleep.The BP/heartrate thing is a continuing problem for me. Unmedicated, it is 140/90 with a pulse of 75. On the Nardil, it is running 105/65 with a heart rate of about 55. I believe the low heart rate is the big problem, and I am experiencing continuing problems feeling faintness/weakness while or after climbing stairs, and also after sitting for extended periods of time and then getting up and walking. I've learned to feel when this is coming on, and will then either sit down if a chair is available or crouch down on the ground with my head leaning forward. It sounds like an intolerable nuisance, but like you, I don't have a lot of options left, and beyond what I've already said, I do find the Nardil to be a very beneficial and constructive drug. I really feel like a better person on it.
Todd
poster:King Vultan
thread:361254
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040627/msgs/361348.html