Posted by Ezrahite on March 5, 2010, at 8:36:23
In reply to Re: Should I switch from Parnate?, posted by TheRealGidget on March 4, 2010, at 22:32:32
Okay, an update, though probably not too helpful.
As I recall, I had only negative effects at the start. I'm not sure how long that lasted, by two months I didn't think there was any effect at all, positive or negative. Maybe if I'd gone up from 40 mg but that was my doc's limit.
What I did find out, is that it changed the effect of caffeine on me. A long time ago, it stopped acting as a stimulant for me, and eventually it was clear that any boost from it was minimal, and it would leave me feeling drained and more depressed for a day or more. But now, on the parnate, one day I had to stay up, so I drank a bunch of coffee. And I found myself suddenly talking, very naturally, with people, like my haircutter, where normally I would find it awkward and not have much to say. I think I must have been more interesting as well. I didn't feel like I was high, or even buzzed, the difference was one I noticed mostly when I found myself interacting better and enjoying it more.
I think what was happening was that the Parnate causes dopamine and norepinephrine to stay in good supply, but doesn't necessarily make them more active in the synapses, while caffeine releases the neurotransmitters, but normally for me without the Parnate leaves me depleted.
Unfortunately caffeine is a messy way to add a stimulant action to Parnate. I think the fact that it activates cAMP was affecting me. I've been reading about executive functions and working memory in the prefrontal cortex, and the process that impairs them works through activation of cAMP. But whatever the reason, I do think it was gradually affecting my judgment and sense of propriety. Though in retrospect I already had major problems in the PFC, and the removal of barriers of fear and aversion just exposed them, my inexperience also being a factor. So probably caffeine would not be problematic for most people; but I don't recommend it. I notice now that there's a small warning label on the bottle about caffeine.
Anyway, after making some unfortunate misjudgments, I was too alarmed to continue and stopped taking the Parnate. I changed insurance at the start of the year, and have tried Remeron, which didn't help and I had to stop because of joint problems. I may try the Parnate again, I'd be interested to see if it could work with augmentation.
> Any updates Ezrahite? I am on week 5 of Parnate and am experiencing the same thing regarding having horrible trouble trying to think of things to say. My thoughts just do not flow at all like they used to. It's compounding my depression and social anxiety rather than relieving it. I just want to make sure I give it a fair shot time-wise since so many people have such success.
poster:Ezrahite
thread:916036
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100305/msgs/938605.html