Posted by jedi on June 16, 2010, at 14:50:04
In reply to Re: nardil users ....Jedi, posted by stargazer2 on June 15, 2010, at 20:50:07
Hi Star,
It sure seems like we have been through a lot of the same experiences. I was first treated for the dysthymia in my mid 30s, a few years after Prozac was approved by the FDA. None of the SSRIs did anything for me. When my first major depression hit, at age 40, I was lucky enough to find a PDOC who tried me on Nardil after the usual SSRI/TCA routine. This guy was good, but of course moved away from our small community soon after that.Nardil has always seemed to work for me for the major depressions. But because of the side effects and the residual dysthymia I was always looking for the magic combination. Because of my limited choice of PDOCS, I was very limited in my ability to get any of them to augment Nardil. I was forced to do a lot of my own research, present it to my GP, and then try to get them to try my suggestions. Several times I was forced to quit Nardil just because no one was willing to augment it. I actually started the bupropion/Nardil combination myself after doing countless hours of research on it. Once I was using it, I was able to get my current PDOC to continue it. Of course, he then retired, same old story... I always thought that the right doctor, like someone from Mclean, would be able to find the right combination for me.
Right now I am back on Nardil at 75mg, I have reduced my clonazepam to 1mg. I am going to stay there for a while, then reduce the Nardil down to 60mg. This seems to be the minimum dosage for me that is still effective, and minimizes the side effects. After that, I would like to be able to decrease the clonazepam down to .5mg, eventually eliminating it sometime in the future. I think I have to resign myself to being a lifer on Nardil. Every time I have been off of it over the past 12 years the major depression has returned in a matter of months.
Yes, I adjust my own medications. I know this is not the correct way to do the job, but there are absolutely no PDOCS in our community. Hundreds of doctors and no psychiatrists, unless you are on Medicaid or some other program. I like my GP, but I have taught him most of what he knows about MAOIs. I assure you I have studied MAOIs ten times more than any GP in this community. It's my excuse, I know.
I need to do some research and find the best PDOC in my state. There are a couple of major universities within 150 miles. I really need to find someone who knows MAOIs inside and out and is willing to augment them. I can't afford to fly out of state so I think I'm pretty much stuck with the 150 mile driving range.
My main problem after the Nardil has kicked in on the major depression and social anxiety is motivation. I have a list of projects as long as my arm. Things I need to get done, things I have to get done, things I used to have no trouble doing. They just seem to get procrastinated to another day. I hate anxiety, but I think I used to use that anxiety for motivation. That's why I believe a small dose of stimulant, added to the Nardil, might just help me. The only MD who will to prescribe this will be someone with a lot of experience with MAOIs. I need to find one of them.
Anyway Star, good luck in your pursuit of wellness. If you or anyone else has any suggestions for me, they would be greatly appreciated.
Be Well,
Jedi
> I was just reading your post and we sound like twins. Depression in my teens, not treated until I was 30, Nardil was the first med that worked but then it stopped and I was in bad shape for years. MArplan worked but then was taken off the market in 1993, so that really messed me up. And then from 1993 to 2001, took every med known to man and this resulted in years being lost to drug trials and I did not have good results.
>
> I have combined Nardil with Wellbutrin after consulting a doc at Mclean Hospital in Boston who said it was fine to do.
>
> I also have combined Nardil with tiny doses of generic Adderall (dextro apmphetamine).
>
> I have taken Seroquel 12.5 for insomnia too.
>
> Don't our histories sound similar?
>
> Star
Jedi
Treatment resistant, atypical, double depression with social anxiety.
Nardil + clonazepam
poster:jedi
thread:950520
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100615/msgs/951256.html