![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KaraS on January 4, 2005, at 21:28:50
Is this really horrible? What are the reactions/ side effects? If so, is there anything you can take to help? I found Effexor withdrawal to be relatively easy because I substituted another SSRI at the end. Is there anything like that to help with going off of an MAOI?
Posted by DavidLA on January 4, 2005, at 23:09:23
In reply to Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by KaraS on January 4, 2005, at 21:28:50
> Is this really horrible? What are the reactions/ side effects? If so, is there anything you can take to help? I found Effexor withdrawal to be relatively easy because I substituted another SSRI at the end. Is there anything like that to help with going off of an MAOI?
I went through it twice with Nardil and I wish I could say I knew of a way to make it easier. I'm considering going off Nardil again soon and my pdoc suggested Lamictal or Wellbutrin as mood stabilizers during the withdrawal period - although I'm not confident they'll do much good.
Anyone else with any ideas?
Thanks,
DLA
Posted by Maxime on January 4, 2005, at 23:26:40
In reply to Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by KaraS on January 4, 2005, at 21:28:50
From Parnate it's not too bad because it has a half life of only 2 hours. I don't know about Nardil. I had to stop Parnate cold turkey for a week and it wasn't bad.
Max
Posted by KaraS on January 5, 2005, at 1:05:07
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by DavidLA on January 4, 2005, at 23:09:23
> > Is this really horrible? What are the reactions/ side effects? If so, is there anything you can take to help? I found Effexor withdrawal to be relatively easy because I substituted another SSRI at the end. Is there anything like that to help with going off of an MAOI?
>
> I went through it twice with Nardil and I wish I could say I knew of a way to make it easier. I'm considering going off Nardil again soon and my pdoc suggested Lamictal or Wellbutrin as mood stabilizers during the withdrawal period - although I'm not confident they'll do much good.
>
> Anyone else with any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
> DLA
What are they symptoms? If you go off of it really slowly is it any better?
Posted by KaraS on January 5, 2005, at 1:09:01
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by Maxime on January 4, 2005, at 23:26:40
> From Parnate it's not too bad because it has a half life of only 2 hours. I don't know about Nardil. I had to stop Parnate cold turkey for a week and it wasn't bad.
> Max
That's odd. I had heard that the withdrawal from Parnate is worse. One of the reasons that Effexor withdrawal can be so difficult is because of the short half life, no?Good to know that you didn't have any problems getting off it it.
K
Posted by alienatari on January 5, 2005, at 3:40:03
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs » Maxime, posted by KaraS on January 5, 2005, at 1:09:01
I agree I have heard that its worse with Parnate too.
I am actually in the process of coming off Parnate so i'll post if i have any side effects.
Posted by cubbybear on January 5, 2005, at 7:58:47
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by alienatari on January 5, 2005, at 3:40:03
Hey you guys! What's going on? I've been taking Parnate for 20 years, all together. I stopped it temporarily on about 5 or 6 different occasions in the past and NEVER had any withdrawal problems.
From a maintenace dose of, say 40 mg., I decreased to 30 mg. for 1 wk., 20 mg. for one week, 10 mg. for one week, then zero.
The only difference I experienced was a change in sleep habits.
Your posts about having such problems withdrawing from Parnate are the first I recall seeing on this board. I don't understand. . .
Posted by don_bristol on January 5, 2005, at 11:03:15
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by alienatari on January 5, 2005, at 3:40:03
> I agree I have heard that its worse with Parnate too.
>
> I am actually in the process of coming off Parnate so i'll post if i have any side effects.
>---------------
How fast are you tapering off the Parnate? And what doses are involved?
Have you been on Parnate for a long time so that you body has adapted to it?
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 5, 2005, at 12:24:08
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by don_bristol on January 5, 2005, at 11:03:15
I was on 70mg of Parnate. I tappered to about 40mg over the course of about a week and a half, then I got impatient and just went cold turkey.
It was a friggin' nightmare. I was walking down the street and just froze; I couldn't move I was in such a miserable stupor. I was a mess for days after.
Next time i will taper at about 10mg per week and not faster.
Posted by sfy on January 5, 2005, at 12:44:11
In reply to Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by KaraS on January 4, 2005, at 21:28:50
When I went off the Nardil, I tapered down gradually over an extended period (it was about 7 years ago so I don't remember exactly) and didn't have any withdrawal problems.
Posted by KaraS on January 5, 2005, at 15:25:28
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by cubbybear on January 5, 2005, at 7:58:47
I started this thread because I had just read a post in which someone stated that they were going through hell trying to get off of Nardil. I had remembered others mentioning that they were having difficulty in going off of the MAOIs as well so I thought I'd find out how prevalent this issue was and if there are any ways to assist or prevent the problem.
Posted by gardenergirl on January 5, 2005, at 17:09:50
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs » cubbybear, posted by KaraS on January 5, 2005, at 15:25:28
Kara,
I recently tried to taper from 60 mg to 45mg of Nardil. One thing I noticed that others have posted is significant REM rebound. Wowsa, the dreams! Not really a problem, just lots and lots of dreams. Good fodder for therapy, though! :)I also had a terrible tension headache and significant tension in my neck and shoulders for a few days. One place I looked for info. ( I can't remember where) seemed to indicate that this might be due to withdrawal, but it could also be associated with the increased depression I felt. Now I'm at 52.5 mg (3.5 tabs) to try to taper much slower. The reason I wanted to decrease is that I get edema at 60 mg, and it is so depressing to be so puffy and see the weigth gain, even if I know it's water.
gg
Posted by ace on January 5, 2005, at 21:10:58
In reply to Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by KaraS on January 4, 2005, at 21:28:50
> Is this really horrible? What are the reactions/ side effects? If so, is there anything you can take to help? I found Effexor withdrawal to be relatively easy because I substituted another SSRI at the end. Is there anything like that to help with going off of an MAOI?
I found Nardil withdrawal very benign. It caused little problems except some crazy dreams and a bit of insomnia. It was relatively easy to withdrawal from. Just another good aspect to this great bomb of a drug!
Ace
Posted by cubbybear on January 5, 2005, at 22:10:03
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs » cubbybear, posted by KaraS on January 5, 2005, at 15:25:28
> I started this thread because I had just read a post in which someone stated that they were going through hell trying to get off of Nardil. I had remembered others mentioning that they were having difficulty in going off of the MAOIs as well so I thought I'd find out how prevalent this issue was and if there are any ways to assist or prevent the problem.
Maybe it's just a coincidence that several people have been having problemswithdrawing from the MAOIs. Nardil, Parnate, and Marplan have never had a reputation for causing these problems, especially compared to other ADs like Paxil and Effexor.
My guess is that the people who run into withdrawal problems have been tapering much too fast.
>
>
>
>
Posted by Willyee on January 5, 2005, at 23:23:34
In reply to Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by KaraS on January 4, 2005, at 21:28:50
> Is this really horrible? What are the reactions/ side effects? If so, is there anything you can take to help? I found Effexor withdrawal to be relatively easy because I substituted another SSRI at the end. Is there anything like that to help with going off of an MAOI?
I did not withdrawal to get off,but i went through a parnate withdrawal for half a week due to my pharmacy running out,and for me it was a nightmare,i kept falling asleep,horrid nightmares,and tingling in my head and feet.These sympoms slowly disappreaed totaly upon re introduction of the med.I will say this however,i think the severity of withdrawal will rely on a few things,first i was one of those on a high dose of the med,i also wasnt using much with it,like a benzo or other anxiety agent.
I believe it might be easier for those on more common lower doses,especialy for those who use it with a benzo etc,this way your not relying on a single med for stablitity.I also went cold without any.Since then i have dropped to a normal dose,put aside my benzo fear and now since using a benzo as well i am able to use a much lower dosage of the med thepruticaly.I never ever ever want to go through the nightmare i did.My doc had to tell me something i already knew,STOP being scared to use the benzo,and shes right,the brain is complex so it makes sense a med or two with different actions are more likly to be beneficial than a single one,and i am actualy doing better on the lower dose of parnate with the klono,...well for now anyway.
Posted by cubbybear on January 6, 2005, at 2:41:01
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by Willyee on January 5, 2005, at 23:23:34
You learned a lot from your experience but remember to always plan ahead for your next Parnate refill. Since very few people these days take MAOIs, you can't assume that the pharmacy will have it in stock. When you see your supply running down, tell the pharmacy right away and don't wait till the last minute.
cubbybear
Posted by KaraS on January 6, 2005, at 10:14:15
In reply to Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by KaraS on January 4, 2005, at 21:28:50
Thanks everyone for your responses.
From the responses here, I think that there's probably a great deal of variation in withdrawal reactions and that the speed of withdrawal is a factor.
Posted by gardenergirl on January 7, 2005, at 1:30:23
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs, posted by KaraS on January 6, 2005, at 10:14:15
Oh yeah, can't forget the myoclonic jerks! They always come back for about a week when I lower my dose.
Love those jerks! ;)
gg
Posted by KaraS on January 7, 2005, at 19:58:28
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs » KaraS, posted by gardenergirl on January 7, 2005, at 1:30:23
> Oh yeah, can't forget the myoclonic jerks! They always come back for about a week when I lower my dose.
>
> Love those jerks! ;)
>
> gg
Sounds terrible. I've never had those.K
Posted by johnnystats on January 10, 2005, at 5:08:58
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs » KaraS, posted by cubbybear on January 5, 2005, at 22:10:03
I just think it's different for everybody. I was on parnate and nardil for a long time, and when i tapered off parnate i felt like hell every day for weeks. But i stopped nardil cold turkey with no problems. It's amazing to me how different everyone here responds to meds.
Posted by cubbybear on January 10, 2005, at 8:48:30
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs » KaraS, posted by johnnystats on January 10, 2005, at 5:08:58
> I just think it's different for everybody. I was on parnate and nardil for a long time, and when i tapered off parnate i felt like hell every day for weeks. But i stopped nardil cold turkey with no problems. It's amazing to me how different everyone here responds to meds.
Yes, your experience is proof of that.
Did your doctor have anything to say about this?
Posted by johnnystats on January 10, 2005, at 17:03:56
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from MAOIs » johnnystats, posted by cubbybear on January 10, 2005, at 8:48:30
> > I just think it's different for everybody. I was on parnate and nardil for a long time, and when i tapered off parnate i felt like hell every day for weeks. But i stopped nardil cold turkey with no problems. It's amazing to me how different everyone here responds to meds.
>
> Yes, your experience is proof of that.
> Did your doctor have anything to say about this?
>
> My pdoc told me that since my main symptoms were anxiety, stopping nardil shouldn't cause me any problems. But since parnate tends to be activating for some people, it can really cause withdrawel unless you're suffering from fatigue/depression.
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.