![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LLL on July 28, 2002, at 12:20:07
I was wondering why I responded adversley to Parnate (severe tachycardia on beginning dose)when in fact it was the very drug that saved my life in the past. I discontinued it's use 4 1/2 yrs. ago. Any thoughts on the fact that I was first put on Nardil - benefited from it tremendously - as in "where have you been all my life" and then after many months switched to Parnate - and that maybe, my brain chemistry was already "primed" so to speak, to handle the more energizing Parnate without incident? or is it that I'm older? or is it that these drugs just don't always offer the same effect once tried again?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lisa
Posted by LLL on July 30, 2002, at 13:32:43
In reply to Need your opinions - advice?, posted by LLL on July 28, 2002, at 12:20:07
was hoping someone could share all their sophisticated brain chemistry knowledge with me!
Posted by bubblegumchewer on July 30, 2002, at 17:22:26
In reply to Need your opinions - advice?, posted by LLL on July 28, 2002, at 12:20:07
I took zoloft several times for a total of well over a year, each time ramping up to full dose (at one point I was taking 200 mg.) quickly, with no noticeable adverse effects except for a quick run to the bathroom (diarrhea) the first day - no big deal. I was not even bothered by nausea; actually I might feel nauseous about 30 seconds out of each day from the medication, maximum.
Then when I was in the hospital with severe panic attacks, they tried to re-start me on it and it made me a pacing, hand-wringing, whimpering wreck. They started an alternative med. the next day. I don't know why I responded badly to zoloft that time, but my guess is that I was already in a high degree of misery and could not handle the extra degree of anxiety that I had previously not noticed at all upon starting the med.
Posted by LLL on July 30, 2002, at 18:05:36
In reply to I can't comment on that particular med but..., posted by bubblegumchewer on July 30, 2002, at 17:22:26
Thanks, I think that must have something to do it with it. Here I am starting Parnate again but in a highly anxious "full relapse" phase, whereas in the past I started it after I had the full benefit and full adjustment to the other less energizing MAOI, Nardil. Saw a new doc today and although reluctant for me to try the Parnate again, suggested I do so and take it VERY, VERY, VERY slowly, which I plan to do. If it doesn't work out maybe I can convince her to try me on Nardil again. She agreed that the Nardil may have primed me so to speak, plus I am now (yuck) older!
Your experience was helpful.
Lisa
Posted by christophrejmc on July 30, 2002, at 22:15:21
In reply to Need your opinions - advice?, posted by LLL on July 28, 2002, at 12:20:07
How long were you off Nardil before starting the Parnate?
Posted by LLL on July 30, 2002, at 22:33:14
In reply to Re: Nardil to Parnate » LLL, posted by christophrejmc on July 30, 2002, at 22:15:21
>How long were you off Nardil before starting the Parnate?
I was on Nardil for about a year and then after 2 weeks switched to Parnate which I was on for 4 years. Now I'm going straight to Parnate after a 4 yr. absence of any AD. I saw a new doc today and she suggested that being older may have made a difference. She also suggested that the Nardil may have paved the way for me to do OK on the Parnate. Although relunctant to have me continue, she recommeded I use only half a tablet per day and increase it by a half a tablet (divided dose) only once every 7 days and take it VERY slowly. I hope her idea works! Like most doc's she's not crazy about using MAOI's and she's the second one I'm seeing in as many weeks -but I think this time I'll stick with her.
Posted by denise528 on July 31, 2002, at 4:21:40
In reply to I can't comment on that particular med but..., posted by bubblegumchewer on July 30, 2002, at 17:22:26
Bubblegumchewer,
What alternative med did they put you on and did it work?
Denise
Posted by LLL on July 31, 2002, at 8:42:46
In reply to what alternative med? Bubblegumchewer..., posted by denise528 on July 31, 2002, at 4:21:40
Nothing has worked except the MAOI's - in the past.
Posted by bubblegumchewer on July 31, 2002, at 12:27:09
In reply to Re: what alternative med? Bubblegumchewer... » denise528, posted by LLL on July 31, 2002, at 8:42:46
Oh, if you were asking me, I was put on nortriptyline and it works great. But it has side effects I don't like. I posted all the gory details in "let's play pick-a-med."
Posted by LLL on July 31, 2002, at 13:06:32
In reply to Re: what alternative med? Bubblegumchewer..., posted by bubblegumchewer on July 31, 2002, at 12:27:09
Yep, I read them and you convinced me that wouldn't be the drug I'd want to try! Hope you've gotten what you're looking for though.
thanks
Posted by bubblegumchewer on July 31, 2002, at 16:16:22
In reply to Re: what alternative med? Bubblegumchewer... » bubblegumchewer, posted by LLL on July 31, 2002, at 13:06:32
Well, I don't mean to badmouth the tricylics, like nortriptyline. I generally have no real problem, but I tend toward the "slow" side, bowel-wise. I understand these medications are a lifesaver for people with irritable bowel syndrome, because it slows them down just enough to be "normal."
The same way zoloft made me regular but gives some people intolerable diarrhea.
I did suspect nortriptyline of keeping me from losing weight. My appetite was ravenous and unstoppable. I do take some personal responsibility for that, though.
Posted by cybercafe on July 31, 2002, at 16:43:42
In reply to Re: Nardil to Parnate » christophrejmc, posted by LLL on July 30, 2002, at 22:33:14
>continue, she recommeded I use only half a tablet per day and increase it by a half a tablet (divided dose) only once every 7 days and take it
you can cut a parnate tablet? .... the circular red ones? .... i thought "enteric coated" (big time spelling error there i'm sure) capsules reacted with the environment if left open for more than an hour or so...... ??
... i'm not trying to scare you -- if you're doc says it's okay, i'm sure it is -- i am just curious if i am taking a different pill than you
Posted by LLL on July 31, 2002, at 21:53:06
In reply to Re: Nardil to Parnate, posted by cybercafe on July 31, 2002, at 16:43:42
you can cut a parnate tablet? .... the circular red ones? .... i thought "enteric coated" (big time spelling error there i'm sure) capsules reacted with the environment if left open for more than an hour or so...... ??
... i'm not trying to scare you -- if you're doc says it's okay, i'm sure it is -- i am just curious if i am taking a different pill than you
Yes, we're taking the same pill and they are VERY, VERY hard to cut! I cut a bunch today to begin my big start again tomorrow and did a terrible job - got mostly 2/3 and 1/3 tablets with a lot of crumbs. But I didn't know anything about the other, what will happen?!
Posted by cybercafe on August 1, 2002, at 2:39:21
In reply to Re: Nardil to Parnate, posted by LLL on July 31, 2002, at 21:53:06
> Yes, we're taking the same pill and they are VERY, VERY hard to cut! I cut a bunch today to begin my big start again tomorrow and did a terrible job - got mostly 2/3 and 1/3 tablets with a lot of crumbs. But I didn't know anything about the other, what will happen?!
... i bought some epivil once and it had this coating on it ... so when i cut it it looked like there were crystals on the inside, ... but when i took a look at it a few days later the crystals looked like one big solid mass... i wondered if that was a bad thing... (why else would they coat it?) ... i dunno really...
Posted by LLL on August 1, 2002, at 17:10:41
In reply to Re: Nardil to Parnate, posted by cybercafe on August 1, 2002, at 2:39:21
I checked it out with my pharmacist and she said that as long as it's not a timed release pill then it's OK; and to keep it stored in the pill bottle in a cool dry place.
thanks
Posted by cybercafe on August 2, 2002, at 2:26:49
In reply to Re: Nardil to Parnate, posted by LLL on August 1, 2002, at 17:10:41
> I checked it out with my pharmacist and she said that as long as it's not a timed release pill then it's OK; and to keep it stored in the pill bottle in a cool dry place.
> thanksthanks lisa... my doc told me that i could get faster action if i divided my dose throughout the day ...
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.