Posted by uncouth on November 22, 2008, at 16:33:56
In reply to Tell Me All About Parnate, posted by bleauberry on November 21, 2008, at 16:53:06
sleep: bad all around. taking seroquel and trazadone helped. lunesta did not.
weight: actually weight gain, but could also be because of abilify
energy: very lethargic first few weeks, esp. in afternoon. needed lots of coffee. slowly starting to feel more normal.
sexual: libido/desire slight help, erection/ability no problem, anorgasmia no problem
appetite: initially less, now more appetite, because of abilify. increased parnate dose to 80, now feeling less need to eat. metformin can help i hear.
blood pressure: biggest issue. at 80mg i have baseline hypertension (160/90), but still have orthostatic at the same time, especially just after dose increase. we'll see if both normalize in time.Parnate is very effective, but dose has to be right, and you have to have patience, and deal with side effects. But overall, when it works (and it often poops out, requiring dose escalations and time before you feel better again, i've found), i think it's better overall than SSRIs. I've ALWAYS responded to effexor, and quickly, but i've found it makes me a bit hypomanic, and less "in control" (e.g., would go hours browsing the internet, porn, eating, more of a desire to drink, etc.).
However, I do think before you try Parnate, you should try a mix of Pristiq and 10mg of Abilify. I hear this is a very powerful combo, as pristiq is more stimulating, Abilify helps normalize things, and potentailly can reduce some of the hypomania that Pristiq/Effexor might generate, while improving dopamine response which SSRIs often blunt. If/when the parnate poops out completely, I will try 100mg Pristiq and 10mg Abilify, which I have a feeling is a really technologocially advanced and sound strategy.
But what i'm really waiting for is my first shipment of Agomelatine to come in, Hoping to replace my sleep meds with it, and maintain my current regime of 80mg parnate, 37.5mg tianeptine, 500-1500mg of L-Tryptophan/day, 2.5mg Abilify, 300mg lithium, 100mcg levothyroxine and a sleeper (either 50mg seroquel or 50 mg trazodone or a combination of both if i really need to get through the night for sure). I also take deprenyl 2.5mg 3 times a week, 5-10mg of DHEA every day, B-complex vitamin, Metformin for weight control, NAC, Omega-3, and smoke weed occasionally to help with sleep.
Sometimes I wonder if i'm just putting in too much in my Brain, but this seems to be working, and no sign of serotonin syndrome. Just started the tianeptine a few days ago but so far so good, esp. w.r.t. anxiety.
Other things which everyone should do:
1. quit smoking
2. drink LOTS of green tea
3. easy on the caffeine
4. chocolate is good, lots of good stuff in there including PEA
5. i think very low doses of deprenyl should be taken by anyone with depression, even if they are on a SSRI or other MAOI. I'm talking 1-2.5mg oral even just 2-3 times a week. At that level, there is virtually no risk of serotonin syndrome because it's just MAO-B specific, but oral deprenyl itself, and it's metabolites, have incredible neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties, esepcially for dopamine neurons.
6. NAC seems to be a great supplement with a really convincing study being reported a few months ago. But it only seems to kick in long term, and you gotta take at least 1000mg a day, and make sure to take vitamin C with it. NAC is a highly potent antioxidant which reduces damage to cells, and can help alleviate some of the stress that all the other chemicals and drugs one uses puts on the brain.
6. Faith and prayer, no matter your religion. If one is agnostic or atheist, then meditate meditate meditate!Anyway that's my regime. Sure it's a lot, but i'm also very sick. And nobody should ahve to suffer with persistant, constant suicidal thinking. Which I did for a long time.
BLUEberry what is your current regime and why you looking to switch to parnate?
poster:uncouth
thread:864497
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081114/msgs/864716.html