Posted by Vincent_QC on February 10, 2009, at 7:27:14
In reply to Marplan - Is what is happening to me normal?, posted by Cseagraves on February 9, 2009, at 11:50:43
> Hello to all.
>
> O.K. - here's whats been going on so far.
>
> Started Marplan last Thursday at 10 mg.
>
> 1st day - not so bad, started feeling nauseous in the afternoon, mild headache and a little jittery.
>
> 2nd day - same thing nauseous, a little more jittery in afternoon, but headache had gotten worse.
>
> 3rd day - extreme nauseous to the point of throwing up, feeling of tremendous knot in stomach, no appetite what so ever. Jitteryness has turned to anxiety which is leading into depression.
>
> 4th day (yesterday)- nauseau and vomiting and diarrhea. Shaking all over. Agoraphobia and anxiety has hit an all time high. Didn't want to eat or move at all yesterday. (Actually wanted to just die. Have never felt like life wasn't worth living anymore.) I don't mean like commit suicide, but would have just been happy to die. I even called the suicide hot-line, which I have never done before.
>
> I'm not understanding why my body seems to have such awful reactions to all meds. Have now been through most ssris, tca's, tried seroquel at one point which was an awful experience. And now I have tried an maoi.
>
> Did anyone else have such an experience going on an maoi? Am wanting to call pdoc, but don't want to sound like a big baby. Was scared to take dosage today and I am supposed to move up to 20 mgs on Thursday.
>
> The only thing that seems to give me any few hours of calmness is zanax. (.5) and I take 1.0 for sleep at night along with some melatonin.
>
> Have dropped 5 lbs. since Thursday and the thought of food right now is repulsive. I have been forcing down protein shakes and trying to eat some food.
>
> What's wrong with me? Is it maybe I just don't need these meds? It almost seems like taking them over a period of time has made me worse. Was thinking, if I can handle it, just maybe easing off of everything (with pdocs help) and learning to cope with the anxiety and agoraphobia issues without relying on meds. ( I know that I can handle zanax and remeron at low dosages).
>
> Feel so lost and don't know what to do. After only being on the Marplan for 4 days, would it be o.k. just to stop it. How much worse could the side effects possibly be?
>
> Please advice. I feel like I'm losing it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> CourtneyHi Courtney!
Hummm...you're not alone in the same boat.MAOI are not suppose to give a lot of side-effects at first like the one you describe...Since it's your first time on a MAOI, it can be harder for a couple of days, I can only say that don't give up...
My first Nardil experience was ok, no weight gain, no hypertension, but when I hit the target dose of 90mg it begin to be extremely difficult to continue because of the hypotension orthostatic problem so I just stop.
When I start the Parnate it was ok, until I reach the 20-30 mg/day...that perhaps because it's more potent than the Nardil, more NE activity I think...anyway since than my blood pressure is high...I have to take a test for my heart next week (ECG or EKG)...as well as others blood test (T3, T4, lithium level and things like these).
The Marplan is suppose to be the MAOI with the lower side-effects profile...I guess he hit more the SE than the others ones.
I also switch from Nardil to Parnate and to Nardil again a week ago, and that's not include the 3 days I do on the RIMA (Manerix)...I developp the same kinds of side-effects you name (panic attacks with agoraphobia or without, increase anxiety, a LOT more nervous in general, headache, and the list goes on...so I just take a break of all the MAOI's for now.
I meet my PDoc yesterday and I start a new type of drugs for me, a TCA...funny, you write that you try them...semm that they was not very helpfull for you...IT will be my first time on a TCA, and i'm full of hope, even if I read a lot of BAD comments about them...
The PDoc and I choose the Clomipramine, something between Imipramine and desperimine for the side-effects. Anyway nothing can be more difficult than a MAOI (as far as side-effects profile), especially the Parnate (for me, not for everyone). We hope it will be helpfull for me. I start the Clomipramine next friday, since I have to be at least 7-10 days free of MAOI before I start it, 20mg/day the first week and 50 the week after. The PDoc show me a lot of studies about the fact that Clomipramine was most efficiently than any newer SSRI's or SRNI's to treat resistant problems like depression or anxiety...He also explain to me that social anxiety never really exist before the 1990...I mean as a disease...so the lack of good studies made by good research Doctors (not the ones you can find on pubmed website) claim that Clomipramine is by far a lot more effective than the newer stuff...so we will see...
Since I read a lot of old post about the fact that Clomipramine and TCA's in general don't help a lot and they all share a lot of side-effects, I just decide to stop reading all the old post and I will make my own opinion about them...
I know that normally TCA are note very helpfull for social anxiety but at least, if I can improve on the depression and lack of motivation and with my panic disorder, I think the others problems will resolve with time. Being free of anxiety symptoms in a social events will help me to feel more comfortable in front of the others...no??? That's what I think...
So for now the MAOI's plan is on the hold on...but the importation of the Marplan in Canada is in process...The SPA program from health Canada will take care of my PDoc quering...My PDoc send the letter about me ...since it's a long process, for now I will try the Clomipramine...anyway I can't be worse than now.
Anyway, I don't reply to your message to complaint about my problems...that was not the point...I guess I needed to talk a little bit (write will be more appropriate...lol).
I really hope the side-effects will fade away for you... I'm sure it's only temporary...
IF I well remember, you're the one who wanted to be switched to the Parnate no? So you choose the Marplan as the first MAOI run???
I'm not an expert on drugs, a lot of people on this board seem to know TONS of informations that I can't imagine.. BUT i'm sure of one thing...WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT...so this is not because someone here will write that Marplan is the weakest MAOI that you have to believe him...people with anxiety (social or general) will often make them-self sick just by reading false informations on the Internet of just by reading the experiences from others users... Dont do like I do often...bad influences from the others experiences are not always positives... I don't argue about the fact that the others people experience are not usefull when they are share here, but don't forget that it's different for everyone...I don't know someone who will have the same side-effects than me...
The same apply for my problems, it's not because I read that TCA's are not good for social phobia that it will not help me...I think the brain is so powerfull that just reading the side-effects profile of a drug before starting it, can increase the chance to developp side-effects when you will start the drug...you understand what I mean I hope???
I can only give you an advise...if you don't feel really good, maybe try to firstly call your PDoc and ask if it's normal...another strategy will be to cut the pill in 2...take only 5mg before bedtime, I always find drugs more easy to be take at first at bedtime because when you sleep, you canno't feel the side-effects...of course I use 50mg of Seroquel to put me asleep so that's maybe more easy for me to take drugs at bedtime, even if they can cause insomnia...but well..call your PDOC ok ;-)
Don't take any chance...having side-effects is normal but when they don't fade away after 1 or 2 weeks that's not normal...
Anyway, i'm always ready to talk with you...give me some of your news ok...
Since I will probably start the Marplan in 1 month (if Clomipramine dont work), your story will be a good source of inspiration for me ;-) Dont forget that I had no side-effect on the Nardil and tons of side-effects on the Parnate...and if you read a lot of posts in this board, people will normally post more bad review about the Nardil than the Parnate...so the Marplan is maybe the good choice for you, even if at first, it's hard to tolerate the side-effects... another point is to go slowly...That's my biggest problem...I Want to go fast so I increase my dosage without advise my PDoc...I think I never understand that...I will learn it one of these days I hope!!!
Take care of you ok ;-)
Have a nice day, even if I know it's hard for you now!!! I understand you so much...I will think of you and send all the positives thoughts I can have to you!!!
Bye!
Vincent ;-)
poster:Vincent_QC
thread:879090
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090203/msgs/879218.html