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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by christophrejmc on January 26, 2002, at 3:32:41
Hello,
I've been sleeping 12-16 hours a day lately. I'm taking 60mg Nardil (phenelzine) and 1mg Klonopin (clonazepam). I stopped taking the Klonopin for a few days, but I still overslept. (I had taken .5mg Klonopin with Parnate before switching to Nardil and I had no sleeping problems.) I took similar doses of Nardil last fall, and had no problems at all. I know that the MAOIs (and Nardil, I would think, in particular) can potentiate the effects of the benzodiazepines, but I've used Nardil+Xanax in the past without problems. I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if it wears off with time.
Also, I'm feeling really drowsy at night (but I still can't get to sleep before 3-5am) and I can't focus much at all (which is bad, because I do most of my best work at night). I'm O.K. during the day -- in fact, I can finally feel the depression lifting a bit. My life is pathetically simple at the moment, but I'm afraid that if this continues, well, whatever (I can't finish sentences, either). I feel "drugged."
Thanks,
Christophre
Posted by bob on January 28, 2002, at 0:22:18
In reply to Nardil-induced hypersomnia, posted by christophrejmc on January 26, 2002, at 3:32:41
Christophre:
I have experienced the eventual development of hypersomnia with every single significantly serotonergic drug I've ever tried. This includes all the SSRIs, Effexor, and Mirtazapine. It doesn't happen right away, but eventually... e.g. six to eight months down the road. It is especially characterized by severe sedation upon getting up - to the point where I eventually don't get out of bed until the afternoon. How's that for hypersomnia?! Nothing I have ever tried has mitigated it, except for coming off the drug in question. Of course, then I dive into severe mental disarray. I tried willpower, multiple alarm clocks, changing the time of dosing, coffee, etc, etc, etc. When you don't hear your alarm, you don't get up.
I took Depakote for over a year, and it wasn't as bed with morning sedation as the SSRI type drugs, but then again, it caused 'round the clock fatigue and drowsiness.
Bob
P.S. If you ever find a solution to this hypersomnia, please post it here!
Posted by christophrejmc on January 28, 2002, at 7:05:34
In reply to Re: Nardil-induced hypersomnia » christophrejmc, posted by bob on January 28, 2002, at 0:22:18
Weird. When my hypersomnia is caused by depression, I can atleast wake up to an alarm clock (to hit the snooze a couple dozen times) or force myself out of bed if needed but I don't even wake up to my (loud!) alarm clock anymore. When someone forces me to wake up, I can't stay awake longer than a few minutes, no matter how hard I try. My only solution to this problem is to stay up all night every other day. This way, I can get to classes (Monday & Wednesday) on time when I stay up. I'm going to try a few other remedies, I'll let you know if any work. Your serotonin experience is interesting, perhaps I'll start there.
-xtophre> Christophre:
>
> I have experienced the eventual development of hypersomnia with every single significantly serotonergic drug I've ever tried. This includes all the SSRIs, Effexor, and Mirtazapine. It doesn't happen right away, but eventually... e.g. six to eight months down the road. It is especially characterized by severe sedation upon getting up - to the point where I eventually don't get out of bed until the afternoon. How's that for hypersomnia?! Nothing I have ever tried has mitigated it, except for coming off the drug in question. Of course, then I dive into severe mental disarray. I tried willpower, multiple alarm clocks, changing the time of dosing, coffee, etc, etc, etc. When you don't hear your alarm, you don't get up.
>
> I took Depakote for over a year, and it wasn't as bed with morning sedation as the SSRI type drugs, but then again, it caused 'round the clock fatigue and drowsiness.
>
> Bob
>
> P.S. If you ever find a solution to this hypersomnia, please post it here!
Posted by bob on January 28, 2002, at 14:03:22
In reply to Re: Nardil-induced hypersomnia » bob, posted by christophrejmc on January 28, 2002, at 7:05:34
I don't even wake up to my (loud!) alarm clock anymore. When someone forces me to wake up, I can't stay awake longer than a few minutes, no matter how hard I try. My only solution to this problem is to stay up all night every other day. This way, I can get to classes (Monday & Wednesday) on time when I stay up.
What you have described above is EXACTLY what I experience. Nothing in the world gets me out of bed. The only thing that would wake me up is either a ringing phone, or another person, but I cannot stay awake, just as you have described. It's impossible. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of a Monday and Wednesday only schedule. Jobs usually require that you consistently get up every day. My depression/anxiety is so bad off of meds now, that I can't taper down.
This is the end of the thread.
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