Posted by Ron Hill on July 29, 2010, at 6:34:14
In reply to Nardil is killing me - must find alternative! Help, posted by Enigma on July 24, 2010, at 13:01:13
Enigma,
I'm very sorry for your suffering.
Have you ever added some lithium to minimize or eliminate your suicidal thoughts? Research shows that lithium is one of best meds to tx suicidal thoughts. Here is a paper. Search the document for the word "lithium" and read those sections:
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/157/12/1925
Start at 300 mg/day of an extended release lithium formulation. The med called Lithobid is a good med.
I would only go as high as is needed to stop the suicidal thoughts. My experience is that at about 900 mg/day I begin to have some bloating. If 300 or 600 mg/day stops the suicidal thoughts, then it would be well worth the addition of the Lithobid.
I take 90 mg/day of Nardil as part of my med combo. My med combo list is provided at the close of this post.
I have gained 70 pounds due to Nardil. I need the med but, like you, I hate the appearance of my pot belly body.
Prior to p-meds, I always weighed 172 during training and by race day (triathlon) I'd always be right at 155 pounds. I'm 5'11". Today I weight 251 pounds, and I do not know how in the h*ll to cut the weight. I eat 1000 calories per day.
You and I never guessed we would ever look like this, did we? Never in a million years!! I always trained hard and my friends used to say I looked buff. The mirror used to be my friend. Now, I avoid mirrors at all costs.
I often want to hang a sign around my neck that says:
"This Massive Weight Gain is Medication Induced. I'm not a Gluttoness Slob."
So you are not alone my friend. Here are a couple of thoughts:
Have you ever tried Parnate? A while back I discontinued my beloved Nardil for a trial of Parnate. I gave 80 mg/day of Parnate four months to kick-in, but it never did provide an antidepressant action for me. But, it might work for you.
During my four months off of Nardil, my potbelly melted away, erectile dysfunction ceased, and my orgasms returned. The side effects of Nardil are dosage dependent. In other words, as the Nardil dosage is increased, the intensity of the side effects typically increases.
Second, as Jan mentioned, some patients consider taking Metformin. But, it has risks and issues:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000974
Find a way to be well my friend.
Problems are solutions waiting to be found. However, having said that, I am well aware of the debilitating h*ll of bipolar depression.
Don't give up, Enigma. There are many things to try.
Please tell me all of the meds that you currently take.
-- Ron
dx: Bipolar II with ultra rapid cycling, and mild OCPD
600 mg/day Trileptal
200 mg/day Lamictal
500 mg/day Keppra
90 mg/day Nardil
3.75 mg/day Deplin (taken with 2500 mcg/day of sublingual methyl B-12, and 12.5mg/day of sublingual P-5-P)35 ml of Calsons Bottled Fish Oil
100 mg/day phosphatidylserene
Centrum Chewable Multi-vitamins; Only 100% of all the usual vitamins
2000 IU Vitamin E
850 mg/day of Mg 212% of RDA (as 5 grams of Mg Malate).
Dark therapy via LowBlueLight glasses (When I remember)
The following are my up and coming add-on trials:25 mg/day agomelatine (Valdoxan)
300 mg/day of lithum carbonate
CoQ10
NAC, + 8 to 10 glasses of water, + Acetyl-L-Carnitine, + Alpha-Lipoic Acid, + Vitamin C
GTF Chromium
Cromium Picolinate
Cinnamon
poster:Ron Hill
thread:955737
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100720/msgs/956297.html