Posted by malcolm664 on June 1, 2007, at 19:44:31
In reply to Re: Advice from Parnate users please..Malcolm, posted by malcolm664 on May 31, 2007, at 23:03:59
> > Thank you Malcolm,
> >
> > How long have you been taking parnate? How long have you been on 60mg? Has it taken you a relatively long time to reach that dose? I too am on 60mg and have been for a couple weeks. Wondering IF i will have a breakthough.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Sophia
>
> I've been on Parnate since around 23rd of April but first really noticed the effect a couple of days ago. I've been keeping a detailed diary but unfortunately, I didn't write down how much I started with (I THINK 30 mgs, so apparently my diary isn't detailed enough) but doubled the dose (to 60 mgs) about a week ago and that's when I noticed the difference. I see my doc tomorrow and will ask him if he can tell me what I started out with and when exactly I moved it up (again, I THINK it was about a week ago).
>
> I remember calling him to tell him that I wasn't really feeling better at the dose that I was on, so that's when he had me increase it...to 60 mgs. That much I know is accurate.
>
> In fact, just this evening I was talking with my brother and telling him how I thought that the med was finally working. I defintitely feel much...calmer...that's the only way to describe it. And the anxiety up to this point was pretty crushing.
>
> I can only hope and wish that you experience a similar reaction, but with all psych med, reactions are notoriously individual.
>
> I'd say "hang in there", but I know that phrases like that are meaningless when people say things like that to me.
>
> What I will say is that I know exactly what you're going through, so if that's any comfort...Of course, I'm being a bit presumptuous by comparing our situations. For all I know yours could be much, much worse than mine.
>
> BTW, I'm also on 1 mg xanax XR (taken when I wake up) and .75 mgs of Klonopin (taken right before bedtime).
>
> I'll let you know what I find out from my doc after our appointment tomorrow and post a follow-up message to this BB...or you can also e-mail me at msaldanha@verizon.net.
>
> Malcolm
>
>Well, I saw my doc today. He definitely doesn't think that it's a fluke that I'm feeling better: it's definitely due to the Parnate. So for now, he's got me at 60 mgs (until I see him again in 2 weeks). He also told me to stop taking the Xanax altogether and prescribed Ambien to help with the sleep. He said that Ambien (unlike other sleep meds) clears your system in the mornings, so there's no residual drowsiness the next day.
As far as dosages, I stared on 30, went up to 40 then slowly up to 60 mgs (of the Parnate, that is).
He's also more hopeful that the Parnate will last long-term. He said that what happened with the Nardil a year ago (I was seeing another doc for meds at the time) was that I experienced such a hypermanic over-reaction that there was no way it could be sustained. But given (at least so far) that I haven't lapsed into euphoria, the chances that the med will continue to work are very good.
Of course, even with a doc as experienced as he is, he can't guarantee me anything. But as of today, I'm much more hopeful about my future (and immediately about the internship which I start a week from this Monday than I was a week ago).
So for everyone who took the time to respond over the last several weeks to my incessant med-related questions (many of them probably repetitive), I just want to say: Thanks!!
I'll still keep posting here and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me: msaldanha@verizon.net. Just put "Psyhobabble question" in the subject line so I don't confuse it with spam. That way I know that it's another poster from this bulletin board and I'll try and respond as quickly as I can.
I wish everyone the best and I of all people of course know very well what everyone is or has gone through.
Regards-
Malcolm
poster:malcolm664
thread:760318
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070524/msgs/760798.html