Posted by rose45 on June 3, 2014, at 19:32:32
In reply to Re: Psychosis after decreasing nardil » Yukio, posted by Chris O on June 2, 2014, at 3:44:04
Yuko, I do sympathise with what you are going through. I dont have any suggestions, but you might find it interesting to hear my experience with nardil.
I had a 'breakdown' approx 25 years ago, and was put on nardil. It took 8 weeks to work, with horrible side effects during those 8 weeks, but once it began to work, it was like a miracle. Just like your husband, I felt so much energy, was much more social, and like your husband also, I became manic, arrogant, angry, argumentative, and people found me hard to be with... I couldnt stop talking, lost a lot of money by overspending etc.... re. the dosage, I would be taken up to 60 mg, and then be on a maintenance dose of 45 mg.
One year ago, the nardil stopped working,(after 23 years of being on it) and I went right back to my original state when I had the breakdown, totally anxious, suicidal and unable to function. It is a horrible scary experience. I was convinced that the nardil had ruined my brain. The psychiatrists also thought I was bipolar because I became manic on the nardil, but I had never been like that before, and I am convinced that it was caused by the nardil. Anyway, they put me on quetiapine which is supposed to be recommended if you are bipolar. It didnt work for me at all,and made me even worse and finally after 6 months of this agony,the dr. agreed to put me on parnate - as I had concluded that the maois are probably the only drugs that work for me. I think I still have the arrogance and anger which I believe are maoi induced, but the 'manic' side is no longer there. Parnate does cause insomnia, which is a problem. Even though Im aware of my anger, it is very difficult to control. I dont drink, and I have been meditating for most of my life, so am used to 'witnessing' my moods - I try to deal with it as best I can, but have lost most of my friends as a result of all this, so I know what you must be going through and truly sympathise. I wish I knew what to suggest. In my case, I was also told to take lithium etc, but I didnt want to. Hopefully you will find a doctor you can work with and whom you can trust. I havent found one yet. Having said all that, I never had a 'psychotic' episode, like your husband, and during the 23 years I was on nardil, I frequently would lower the dose. Lowering the dose would bring on the extreme agitation, and anxiety, but NOT psychotic symptoms as you describe them. Hope that gives you some comfort.
poster:rose45
thread:1065960
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140512/msgs/1066418.html