Posted by Chairman_MAO on March 8, 2006, at 22:31:14
In reply to Re: oh, posted by linkadge on March 8, 2006, at 16:12:54
The confusion on this issue arises due to the ill-fated "stimulant" classification. PSYCHOstimulants (d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, d-methamphetamine), viz. drugs that have a more potent CNS effect than peripheral effect, are far less dangerous to combine with MAOIs than _sympathomimetics_ or "stimulants" such as ephedrine, propylhexadrine, l-methamphetamine and l-amphetamine which have a primarily peripheral action.
Ironically, most doctors seem not to understand this. Then again, most doctors seem not to understand MAOIs very much at all. Personally, I don't understand how you couldn't find their antidepressant effect more interesting than that of uptake blockers, as--at least metaphysically speaking--levels of monoamine oxidase [A] have an intricate cascade of effects on personality and affect. Anyone who has experienced the phenomenon of the "phenelzine firecracker" effect (transition from seemingly hopeless despair to elated and socially effervescent literally overnight) will concur with me here. Studies show this happens after about 10 days at ~80%-90% MAO inhibition. Interestingly enough, while the hypomania usually subsides, there is a reliable euthymia or even hyperthymia which often remains for years or decades thereafter.
If you started Nardil at 1mg/kg and braved the side effects (and had some Nembutal to put yourself to sleep each night, haha), you'd notice it "kick in" a lot faster than 6-8 weeks.
poster:Chairman_MAO
thread:613775
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060304/msgs/617805.html