Posted by ed_uk2010 on February 20, 2011, at 15:21:36
In reply to just an experiment..., posted by j-legs on February 20, 2011, at 5:58:59
Hi there
I'm sorry to hear your story. You're been through a lot.
>These two medications are poison together and my pharmacist was very hesitant and upset about giving them to me...
Although combining Nardil with Tegretol is officially contraindicated, there isn't actually any evidence that they interact. Some of your symptoms certainly sound like medication adverse effects - but not a drug interaction as such.
>I was horrified to realize I was just being experimented on.
I'm sure your doctor wanted you to get better, but you bad reaction to the medication ought to have been recognized and dealt with at an early stage.
>Now I am a woman with a raised ANA level indicating possible drug induced lupus (see Tegretol)...
That's a possibility. I hope it will resolve quickly now that Tegretol has been stopped.
>sleep apnea treated with c-pap, EXTREME edema, enormous weight gain
Weight gain and edema are common adverse effects of Nardil. I think you will start to lose the weight once Nardil has been stopped and the sleep apnea will improve as a result.
>horrible numb arms and hands with shooting pains.
I think there is a variety of possible causes here. Nardil can cause vitamin B6 deficiency which has been implicated in causing neuropathy. Supplementation with pyridoxine tablets might help.
>My blood pressure is high and never was, my heart rate is high, and never was. I can't even walk to the bus stop with my son without gasping for air and feeling like I'm going to black out.
I suspect that all of these symptoms are a result of the weight gain and edema due to Nardil. As bad as you feel now, I do think you will get much better once you start to lose weight.
>I never sleep because of vivid nightmares (even with a script sleeping pill).
Nightmares are frequent during withdrawal from Nardil (and other antidepressants). Things should return to normal a few weeks after you have stopped taking it. At least they always have done for me.
>In the next two weeks I am scheduled for a cardio catheter, to see if my symptoms are from congestive heart failure, also another effect of Tegretol mixed with Nardil.
Nardil causes edema relatively frequently. It is usually mild, though obviously not in your case. Fortunaltely, Nardil edema does not seem to be due to heart failure and is readily reversible after stopping the medication.
I don't have anything profound to say, but you must try to keep your hopes up. There is every reason to believe that your physical symptoms will improve substantially in the weeks and months after you stop Nardil. Obviously, you will not feel better overnight, but you will get better in time. Your psychological symptoms may be more difficult to treat, especially since medication hasn't been helpful. You will obviously need to be cautious with any further trials of medication.
Take care.
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:979541
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110220/msgs/979560.html