Posted by stargazer2 on January 19, 2008, at 18:56:57
In reply to Re: Question about EMSAM versus other MAOIs » Racer, posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2008, at 23:34:41
I failed Emsam (Nov 2006 - May 2007) and Nardil has worked for me twice in my life, in 1987 (original formula at 30 mg, no side effects) and in 2007 (60 mg, more side effects, but affective vs. depression.) I too have extremely low BP, as low as 80/40 on Nardil with a pulse 40, worse than on Emsam. On Emsam I had dizziness but with a normal BP.
What I found with Nardil and Emsam is that when I started I was on Abilify too. I think perhaps Abilify complicated the Nardil and Emsam effect. Also I was on Nardil and Nortriptylline and Nardil and Wellbutrin and all 3 add-on meds, that my MD pushed for, caused severe dizziness.
Since going only on Nardil alone, my dizziness has resolved and I haven't checked my BP in a long time since I don't feel lightheaded anymore.
Nardil took from March to November of 2008 to get straightened out and this may be too long for many people to stick with. All I knew is that my mood was better despite the physical SE's and now most of them have resolved, but I had cut back on some meds my pdoc had wanted me to continue with Nardil such as Nortriptyline.Overall, Nardil has been the first med in a very long time I can say has more mood benefits than every other med I've tried in many years.
The only other meds that worked longer than a year was Marplan in 1993 (until Roche discontinued it) and Celexa, Wellbutrin and Adderall from 2000 to 2003. So my track record is not not terrific in the 20+ years I have sought treatment for depression.
Nardil is a Godsend. I hope it can continue to keep my depression at bay. It has not been a full year yet. No one knows anything about long term treatment of depression, especially chronic relapsing and remitting depression. It is just like any other chronic disease that requires long term management. I am not fooled anymore by expecting a permanent cure for it. I have had it too long with frequent reoccurrences to think like that anymore, but I am still hopeful for that remote possibility.
Stargazer
poster:stargazer2
thread:807474
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080114/msgs/807775.html