Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ace on July 28, 2003, at 1:01:12
I can't stand this. I'm thinking off going straight to Parnate tommorrow- I have Periactin on hand.
Advice??
Ace.
Posted by Dragonslayer on July 28, 2003, at 7:01:55
In reply to Change MAOI same day???????, posted by ace on July 28, 2003, at 1:01:12
You were just raving about Nardil, how is it that now you want to change? You also had encouraged others to give it a try because you had such wonderful results.
You know I've been following your posts for a while, to include when you came off back in the Spring after a washout.
I think you need a doc consult on this one. You know I wish you the best and you were willing before to stay on the "Lady Nardil" for years. We can all hit a bad patch and sometimes our decisions get clouded during those times.
Be safe for your mind and body and talk to your doc. Good Luck Man.
Posted by Dragonslayer on July 28, 2003, at 8:18:51
In reply to What happened?, posted by Dragonslayer on July 28, 2003, at 7:01:55
Just read it. Sorry about your problems, man. Hang in there.
Posted by SLS on July 28, 2003, at 13:28:52
In reply to Change MAOI same day???????, posted by ace on July 28, 2003, at 1:01:12
> I can't stand this. I'm thinking off going straight to Parnate tommorrow- I have Periactin on hand.
>
> Advice??
Yes.Slow down.
I think the first thing that you should do is to recognize the goal. The goal is to find something that will get you as well as possible in the long-term and keep you that way. Jumping on and off drugs so quickly looking for a quick fix might be counterproductive. It might take several months of treatment at stable dosages of medication to achieve the goal. In this case, you are going to have to accept and plan that you will feel like sh_t for an extended period of time. I have ridden the same rollercoaster that you are on now. I never gave things sufficient time to work and stabilize. I was constantly changing drugs and changing dosages. In the end, I had to start all over again to give each treatment choice ample time to work. In the meantime, I think you might profit from using "band-aid" drugs like Zyprexa, Abilify, Lamictal, and perhaps Neurontin or S-AMe to take the edge off and mitigate the depression. These things will not interfere with your choices of core treatment medications.
If you are going to switch to Parnate, I would advise the conservative approach of discontinuing the Nardil and waiting some minimum period of time between the last dose of Nardil and the first dose of Parnate. Two weeks is generally recognized to be prudent. Some doctors recommend shorter periods. I personally don't know enough to recommend anything less than 14 days. Hopefully, more people will chime in regarding this.
I wish I could do something to get you where you need to be quicker. My crystal ball broke a long time ago. That's OK, though. It never worked right to begin with.
Hang in there and plan to feel worse before you are to feel better. It makes things easier. Try to slow down.
- Scott
Posted by Dragonslayer on July 28, 2003, at 16:59:44
In reply to Re: Change MAOI same day???????, posted by SLS on July 28, 2003, at 13:28:52
with Scott.
I just remember how things were for you. As I said, it's really hard to make big decisions when things are rough and the mental pain is so bad. It wasn't so long ago that things were good (almost too good?), but I think if you try to "ride this rough spot out" (stinks, I know), things will get stable for you again.
It would be great to fiqure out all the complex chemicals and reactions of our brains. I don't think we ever will, despite all the study and research - not a reason not to do it, I'm just not sure the goal is an attainable one.
Hang in there, there are a number of us really pulling for your stability and wellness.
Posted by MelD on July 28, 2003, at 18:28:12
In reply to I agree====, posted by Dragonslayer on July 28, 2003, at 16:59:44
Just FYI, i waited 5 days between Nardil and Parnate. But i do agree you should stick with the Nardil as long as you can - it has worked so well for you. Wishing you all the luck, Mel
Posted by MelD on July 28, 2003, at 18:37:36
In reply to Re: I agree====, posted by MelD on July 28, 2003, at 18:28:12
I just reread my previous post and thought it sounded a little abrupt and insensitive. It has to be very upsetting to say the least to lose the good feelings you were having. Parnate started to poop out on me a month ago, but raising my dose kicked it in again. That's why i advised sticking with the Nardil When i was feeling the depression return i was in an awful state and my pdoc "talked me down". Be careful and be prudent, Ace. We loves ya and want you feeling yourself again. Mel
Posted by ross co on July 28, 2003, at 21:41:29
In reply to Re: Change MAOI same day???????, posted by SLS on July 28, 2003, at 13:28:52
scott,
i went from lexapro to nardil in one day. not very smart but SS is very very rare. it takes an mao 2 weeks at least to bypass the gut. my doc is a vet in mao treatmnet and he said in his 25 years of practicing he only saw 2 cases of serotonin syndrome. im just saying this im not being an ass about it
ross
Posted by SLS on July 29, 2003, at 6:05:36
In reply to Re: Change MAOI same day???????sls, posted by ross co on July 28, 2003, at 21:41:29
Hi Ross.
> i went from lexapro to nardil in one day. not very smart
Maybe it is smart, I don't know. The thing that is dangerous is to switch from an MAOI to another drug too rapidly. I think it takes about 10 days for MAO activity to recover.
> but SS is very very rare.
I don't think serotonin syndrome is all that rare when someone mixes MAOIs and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. I got a heck of a SS reaction from adding about 15mg of Effexor on top of an ongoing trial of Parnate 120mg. Symptoms included a delerium that had me babbling nonsense for over a half-hour. I also experienced SS symptoms when trying to combine imipramine with Nardil. This included muscle stiffness and severe hypotension.
The other thing about switching from Nardil to Parnate is that there may be risks other than serotonin syndrome. I think a hypertensive reaction should be a concern, especially in light of the frequency with which initiating Parnate therapy in the absence of another MAOI can raise blood pressure.
> it takes an mao 2 weeks at least to bypass the gut.
I didn't know that was the obstacle. Thanks for the info.
I know that people have successfully switched between MAOIs and other drugs with little or no waiting period in between. I just don't know enough to encourage someone else to try it.
- Scott
Posted by ross co on July 29, 2003, at 14:21:45
In reply to Re: Change MAOI same day???????sls, posted by SLS on July 29, 2003, at 6:05:36
very right in from going to an ssri from an mao. there is the danger. good point
ross
This is the end of the thread.
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