Posted by Donna Louise on June 18, 2006, at 6:40:24
In reply to Re: EMSAM doses too low to effect depression ? » Declan, posted by endof90 on June 14, 2006, at 7:30:26
> > How old are you? (you sleep so well)
> > No problems sleeping on the 12mg patch? Would it make sense to try a higher dose?
> > 2mg sublingual deprenyl/d disturbed my already bad sleep.
> > But then you've come off Nardil 2 months ago, which might....?
> > Declan
> I am 47. My problems started w/panic attacks @ 16. Completely ruined me @ 30, but is a long story. Have you heard of anyone going higher than the 12mg patch? My last months on the Nardil were really bad, and my somnolence increased as well as the isolation. I was put on Lamictal about the 4th month on the Nardil, when it seemed to be losing it's effect. A few weeks into taking Lamictal, I began having heart palpitations and pressure in my chest soon after taking my usual Nardil dose. I had to take sublingual Procardia whenever this occurred because my B/P would shoot up. Anyway the Nardil had to be lowered to 45mg from 90mg/day. My psydoc. insisted the Lamictal had nothing to do w/this. I had never experienced this w/Nardil before nor had any history of any cardiac problems. I had been on it for 6 mos. in 2003 where it was working well, but in Dec. of that year I had a hypertensive crisis that seemed to hit me out of nowhere. It occurred after eating a peice of chocolate, which I had never had a problem with previously. It had come as a gift and was from a place that made their own confections, so that might have been the reason. It was a terrible, frightening experience. This happened during the time Pfizer was apparently in the process of changing the formula, and @ the time it was very difficult getting Nardil anywhere. I remember having to write to the company to get a emergency supply b/c all pharmacies were out of it, and having a difficult time obtaining it. I now wonder if this had something to do w/it, as I now see alot of people have had problems w/Nardil since then. Problem is, after having such a good response to a med. and then having it lose it's effect is so discouraging. When it worked I felt as if I had experienced a miracle. Had been hoping for this w/Emsam, but just don't know now. Terrible thing also is when something does finally help, I feel like I am always looking over my shoulder for it's eventual failure. Guess I should just be grateful for the respites I have had in my life dealing w/this ugly disease. My Dr. wanted me to add a small dose of Lexapro while on the Nardil, but I was too scared to try. Maybe if he had offered to supervise the experiment in his office, I would have tried it. Then Emsam became available and he decided to go w/that. Did you ever hear of combining a MAO w/Lexapro? I haven't been able to find any info on such a combination. Would have been willing to try it if there had been some evidence of it being used w/out dying of a hypertensive crisis.That is a really bad idea. To mix an ssri with an MAOI. I don't care how small the dose. That is one of the main things sure to cause a hypertensive crisis. Even if you could get away with a tiny dose, that would have to be so tiny it would do no good anyway. Gads, hasn't he read the monograph or whatever you call the long winded tiny writing thing that comes with the rx?? This is how MAOI's get a bad rap. And since you sound especially sensitive to such things, it is not out of the realm of possibility that lamictal gave you a problem even if it isn't supposed to you. Anything can be possible with an individual chemistry. I am glad you listened to you and not him.
Donna
poster:Donna Louise
thread:655515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060617/msgs/658230.html