Posted by uncouth on December 9, 2009, at 2:16:44
In reply to Re: Swapping Parnate for Effexor. » RocketMan, posted by SLS on December 8, 2009, at 15:25:26
I can't recommend this, at least based on my experience. I too had responeded albeit in a bp2, somewhat mixed sort of way, to Efx at 300mg for quite some time. But for most of 2008 I was on one MAOI or another. In restrospect, Parnate was doing a good job and I should have added zypeexa then. Instead I had the big idea of changing over from parnate to Effexor + Stimulant. This wAS A DISASTER and precipitated the worst suicidal depressive state I was ever in. I ended up getting ECT and taking 6 months to recover after that, living with my parents, being a sick, sick bum on a log.
What I wish I had done is gone from Parnate to Effexor + high dose of wellbutrin, or better yet, not left parnate at all, and simply increased the dose as high as necessary. I also would have been in better shape had I discovered zyprexa then too.
The author david foster wallace killed himself after (slowly!) weaning himself off nardil, which he was on for 20 years.
I am convinced MAOIs are not meant to be gone off of in a simple fashion. Please bear that in mind. You don't want to end up in ECT zonked land like I was.
I am lucky to have survived.
But you may react differently. Personally I have given up on most SSRIs for BP2 depression. If I were you, I'd aggressively max out parnate, up to 180mg. Then, at the same time or after, try zyprexa.
-uncouth
poster:uncouth
thread:928515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091206/msgs/928599.html