Posted by bleauberry on August 26, 2012, at 5:24:17
In reply to how long does MAOI withdrawal last?, posted by g_g_g_unit on August 25, 2012, at 7:35:54
Some herbs could help you sleep. They don't really have the knockout sedation power of meds, but they calm everything way down so the sleep can happen, through a variety of mechanisms.
Skullcap, Valerian, Lemon Balm, Passionflower. A tincture of each is about $12 or so. The synergy of plants is where the magic is, so maybe experiment with each one to introduce yourselves, and then begin combining them. In my experience I found skullcap the most helpful for sleep when I was in zyprexa withdrawals. Valerian helped boost it. Lemon balm was better in the day to calm down jitteriness, and at higher doses sort of acts like a calm stimulation with mood lift. Lower doses more relaxing. Whatever herb benefits you the most, the others act as catalysts to make it work even better.
I'm just thinking this way because we already know how devastating withdrawals are, so this would lessen future benzo withdrawals.
Also would suggest Rhodiola Rosea. Dosing is tricky, but this plant has the potential and reputation to do good for all of the symptoms you mentioned. The other calming herbs kick in within an hour, and though rhodiola might be felt on the first day, its real benefits take a few weeks. I wouldn't analyze too much exactly how or why this plant does so much, just know that it does. It can be as monotherapy and it can be added to most psych meds.
All that said, Parnate is a really powerful substance. So I think it's gonna take some time. That's why the herbs....to help make the journey smoother. I was only on a baby dose of Parnate, and only a short time. My withdrawals were about 2 days. Zyprexa for 8 years, the withdrawals were about 3 months. So there is quite a wide span of how long it can take. All that bizarre stuff that happens when stopping an ssrr, well, with zoloft it took me 2 months for all that to be gone.
I know all the reasoning and logic behind memantine. Just my opinion, but I would not place any significant bets on it being very helpful.
The maoi effect of parnate takes about a week to two to wear off, for the mao enzymes to recover. You could maybe lessen the withdrawals by taking a baby dose once every 3 days or so. The time period of your weaning process looks too fast to me. Or at least, there is no way I could wean off any med that fast or in that big of steps. The withdrawals and all the bizarre stuff are just too intense for me if I don't take it slow and easy on the way down in dose.
poster:bleauberry
thread:1024171
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120818/msgs/1024232.html