Posted by strata on August 21, 2013, at 4:31:57
Hello everyone, Ive been on phenelzine for a year and a half. It didnt really help and my depression still waxes and wains at its own free will. I have however had full blown side effects, this is the most difficult drug I have ever been on for side effects. Weight gain, water retention, inablity to lose weight even on Slimming world plan, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, constant bloated feeling. (Not as horrific as my 5 year suicidal depression tho) If it had helped I wouldnt mind but i want off it now.
My psychiatrist is agreeing I can reduce it slowly. Went from 90mg to 75mg at beginning of year with no worse effects. Then went 75mg to 60mg and stayed there for 6 months depression no worse. Then in May moved down to 45mg. I lost about a stone in 3 weeks after this reduction, my urination and sexual function improved but is still affected.
I am doing it incredibly slowly as I am afraid of crashing big time. About a month after the last reduction my chronic fatigue became 50% worse and I got the leaden paraylsis feeling again. I kept reminding myself that I got this even when I was at 90mg including all the suicidal thoughts too.
Stayed at parents whilst I let my brain readjust. It was a miserable summer but Im glad I didnt increase as this could just be withdrawal. I feel im now back to a bit more level altho still have massive extended suicidality.
I am now going to see doc in 10 days to discuss coming down further!!! I dont want to be on a drug which isnt doing anything other than screwing up my bodily functions. I am on flomax and senakot for urination flow. I couldnt pee much on Nardil for months. And constipation was unbelievable. I couldnt have sex at higher doses and the side effects did NOT improve until I reduced dose.
Dont get me wrong if it had had a noticably big impact on my depression I would be willing to put up with being on flomax and all the other stuff. (I am jealous of people for whom medication works!) This is, after all severe depression we are talking about which is unbearable in itself. Once again tho I think my brain is just taking its own time in getting better.
Has anyone ever reduced phenelzine this slow and does anyone think I am going about it the right way doing it every 4-6 months?
I feel weird every time I reduce it and get weird images in my head but it doesnt last. My psychiatrist says that with this drug anything is possible.
Does anyone have any views on this?
I dont know anyone else on this drug x Hope you are all well
poster:strata
thread:1049417
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130730/msgs/1049417.html