Posted by evenintherain on January 12, 2010, at 16:57:29
Hi,
I am about to start a new drug to try to help my MDD (unipolar) after failing to get much relief from many others (prozac, wellbutrin, nortriptyline, celexa, lamictal, remeron, cymbalta, maybe a few others i am forgetting at the moment.)
I've got anhedonia and chronic dysthymia and cry easily when thinking about all this stuff -- I guess it seems very overwhelming. I tend also to get obsessed with suicide when I am not on drugs, but luckily I am not obsessed with that at the moment (I do think about it daily, but not AS obsessed as I have frequently gotten, and I do not have any plans or anything). My main problem seems to be lack of motivation, trouble getting out of bed, etc. I am currently unemployed, which doesn't help matters.
Anyway, sorry, I don't mean to make this longer than it has to be, just thought some background might be helpful.
My pdoc suggested I try Parnate, but i have some time to think about this since i am withdrawing from Cymbalta now (on week 7 of taper, having a very very difficult time coming off this drug) and have to wait 2 weeks for the wash out.
It looks like a lot of people on here (and elsewhere) have found some relief with Parnate, and i definitely think this is a good option, but i have a few reservations. The most notable being the diet. I know it should be no big deal, and finding a drug that works is worth some sacrifice. But I am still a little bit reluctant. This is because the only foods I really enjoy eating, besides sugar, are cheese (stinkier = better) and tofu. I am a vegetarian and these are my main sources of protein. I have been taking note of what I eat at every meal and comparing that to the MAOI diet and am feeling very discouraged. I know it is possible to eat a vegetarian MAOI diet. It's just it has taken me a very long time to come up with the diet i have now, and to be enjoy eating food at all. Now pretty much the only pleasure i get is from food (this is strange for me to say, as i spent most of my life disliking food and wishing it could come in pill form). I guess I would just hope that I could experience other pleasures on Parnate?
This might be a good time to ask, how common are sexual side effects w/Parnate?
Has anyone on here had any lasting success with Emsam? I know you still have to watch your diet on the higher doses, but on the off chance a smaller dose works, do you think this would be worth trying first?
I have delayed sleep phase syndrome (this is like having constant jet-lag, i have a lot of trouble getting to sleep before morning). Parnate generally causes insomnia. Does Emsam as well?
I am very curious about stimulants. I don't know if my doctor would be willing to prescribe Dexedrine, (I suspect I would have to be very persuasive and I am not very good at being persuasive), but have a feeling it could really help me. Being able to get out of bed would be HUGE. I have also read it can be added to Parnate in some cases (or vice versa). I know there are many worries about dependence and abuse. I admit I have some trouble seeing the difference between dependence on this drug and any other AD, but that may be very naive of me to say. I suspect there is a possibility of mood swings (this definitely would NOT be helpful)?
On a final note, I am really scared of starting Parnate and it not working. Or of taking it for some time and having to stop because of the side effects and than if i started it again later there is no garuantee it would work the second time. I know it is not the ACTUAL last chance, but it seems it's getting close, and i find that very scary.
Anyway, any comments or advice you would be willing to share would be immensely appreciated.
Thanks!
poster:evenintherain
thread:933399
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100103/msgs/933399.html