Posted by gardenergirl on March 3, 2007, at 12:57:48
In reply to Re: Nardil experiences/card - Gardenergirl » gardenergirl, posted by UGottaHaveHope on March 3, 2007, at 11:30:21
> I have been studying a lot of your past posts in recent weeks, with my anticipation of switching from Emsam to Nardil. Most interested, I am wondering if you could email a copy of the MAOI card you carry with you when you eat out. I think that is a novel idea. I love it. Do you also wear a med bracelet?
I'll send that out to you. It's based on my own experiences with the restrictions and eating, so you may want to modify it for yourself. I print them out on business cards, which reminds me I think I'm down to one card left. Sometimes the wait staff keep it, so I like to carry a few. I do wear a medical bracelet. It's funny, I just bought a watch charm to add to it to jazz it up a bit. It gives my name, says "Takes MAOI/No Demerol (probably not all that important to put on, but hey..)/See back". On the back it says, "Warning: Food and drug interactions/Anesthesia cautions/Hypertensive crisis risk". Fortunately, I've never needed the bracelet, but I always wear it when I travel, and usually everyday, though sometimes it gets on my nerves (sensitive skin) and I take it off for awhile.
>
> Do you mind if I ask a few more things: How long have you been on Nardil? What mg are you taking? What other side effects have you had, if any? How about the notorious weight gain, how do you deal with that?I started Nardil about 3 and a half years ago. I currently take 60mg. I've gone as high as 75 mg, but I couldn't tolerate that. I had akathisia and terrible insomnia at that dose. I'm highly sensitive in a number of domains, and meds is one of them. 67.5 mg (4.5 tablets) was okay, but 60 seems best for me. I've tried going back down to 45 mg, but I usually got more depressed.
I've had a lot of side effects, but they've pretty much been tolerable. It kind of surprises me now to see them all listed out, because it doesn't feel like it's a problematic med.
Hyperreflexia
Early awakening (resolved with Ambien)
Peripheral edema (at 60 mg and higher and worse when taking NSAIDs)
Weight gain (45 lbs, though down 10# from peak)
Myoclonic jerks (resolved, return with dose decrease)
Mild urinary retention at 60mg and higher
Anorgasmia (returns with dose increases, resolves after about 4 mos.)
Excessive sweating--this one will probably bug me a lot more as the weather gets warmer again. I really really really hate sweating. And with Lithium in the mix now, I'll probably have to be careful about fluids.
Akathisia and insomnia at 75 mgWeight gain...well, it's always been countered by the benefits of the med in treating my depression. It is depressing, though, to keep buying bigger sizes in clothes and not fitting into your favorite things. In my case, it also means the selection in my size is pretty sparse at times, which makes me mad. Fat girls like to look stylish and pretty too, ya know? I've dealt with it as best I can by focusing on what's positive, taking Provigil and chromium picolinate, and before I injured my shoulder and knee doing yoga. What I really need to do is to get the sweets out of my house, but that's been difficult. I feel deprived if I don't have any here, but I often binge at night---something about that last dose of Nardil at about 10:00 p.m. seems to trigger an urge for carbs. So I think behavioral stuff could help me, though I haven't had the energy or motivation to put into it til now.
It really does feel good to not be depressed, btw. I'm so grateful for that.
>
> Thanks for sharing your experiences. If possible send me a copy of your out-to-eat card at sportscarvell@yahoo.com
>
> Thanks, MichaelLet me know if you have any problems with the email.
namaste
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:737306
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070302/msgs/737946.html