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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by satsumas on August 27, 2008, at 18:29:59
Hi, does anyone here have experience with adding Abilify to an MAOI specifically Parnate?
Effectiveness? Interactions? Dr. is very conservative with respect to serotonin syndrome and says I can't add it to an MAOI and he wants me on Pristiq instead. But I'm not so sure about that. Is it actually safe with an MAOI? I'm a bit hesitant to move to Pristiq as I don't think I can get through a washout at this particular time. Also was on Effexor before and found it to be too apathy-generating and emotionally numbing. MAOIs seem to be better with respect to those.
I just started Parnate, moving over from nardil which had too many side effects and wasn't working. I already feel the extra stimulation (and the afternoon sedation) at 40mg and will likely have to go up to 50 or 60mg within a week.
I'm wondering if Abilify may help with any of the daytime sedation, and also, will it exacerbate the stimulation (make me too stimulated?). Also, I find myself shaking my legs a lot and clenching my jaw throughout the day. The first few nights on Parnate were a bit restless in terms of movement, but I did sleep.
Will Abilify possibly help with the excess movement? I know it actually can exacerbate it at higher dosages, but I'm curious if it helps it at a lower dose (say 5 or 10mg).
And once again, as an augmentation agent, subjective experiences would really be appreciated especially in regards to adding it to an MAOI.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP! Very much need it.
Posted by Nadezda on August 29, 2008, at 13:02:50
In reply to Parnate experience, plus Abilify add-on questions, posted by satsumas on August 27, 2008, at 18:29:59
I found a small dose of abilify very helpful with Emsam. I can't speak directly to Parnate, but it could be helpful there too.
Sometimes Abilify causes akathesia, but not necessarily.
As for sedation vs. activation, I find it somewhat activating, so take it in the morning. In fact that's part of what I like about the effect. On the other hand, some people do find it sedating, so they take it at night-- that's what my pdoc originally suggested to me, However, my reaction was different.
Akathesia and stomach problems are the main SEs, at least when my pdoc recommended it to me. I haven't had those problems, though-- no SEs that I've noticed.
I say give it a try. You can always stop if the SEs are bad-- or it doesn't do anything. But as I say, I do find it quite helpful.
Nadezda
Posted by satsumas on August 29, 2008, at 15:08:36
In reply to Re: Parnate experience, plus Abilify add-on questions » satsumas, posted by Nadezda on August 29, 2008, at 13:02:50
What specifically do you find it helpful for? What did your doctor prescribe it for, just depression or for motivation or delusional depressive thoughts or???
Posted by Nadezda on August 29, 2008, at 19:14:04
In reply to Re: Parnate experience, plus Abilify add-on questi, posted by satsumas on August 29, 2008, at 15:08:36
I"m not sure, in retrospect, why he suggested it.
One of the main effects that I noticed was that it really diminshed my tendency toward obsessive ruminations-- endless cycles of hopeless or depressive thoughts about things that had happened or might happen.
I do think there's an activating effect too, but I'm on a small dose, so it's not a strong one,
Why did your pdoc suggest it for you?
Nadezda
Posted by satsumas on August 29, 2008, at 20:17:39
In reply to Re: Parnate experience, plus Abilify add-on questi » satsumas, posted by Nadezda on August 29, 2008, at 19:14:04
Same sort of thing. But some rumination is good, right? Isn't that how you change? Although I do know the pain of excessive obsessive thoughts, especially about myself and my depression. Maybe Abilify will help to get me out of the terrible feedback cycle of ruminating over my ruminating.
I also need something stimulating, though. I have pretty bad amotivational stuff, which is why I'm on Parnate. Need dopamine badly. Doctor is suggesting a combo of Pristiq and Abilify, and I'm not sure how stimulating that may be for attention, apathy, anhedonia. And I don't like the way Effexor makes me a bit emotionally numb and blissed out at therapeutic dosages.
Posted by Nadezda on August 30, 2008, at 13:36:53
In reply to Re: Parnate experience, plus Abilify add-on questi, posted by satsumas on August 29, 2008, at 20:17:39
Have you tried provigil? It's not the strongest, but it does help with energy and motivation.
I think abilify might be very good for you. There are activating effects-- which is why I always take it in the morning. I've never tried Effexor, only SSRI's and cymbalta, and a bunch of others, until I got onto Maois.
Thoughtfulness is a good thing; obsessive rumination is something else algether. I wouldn't say at all that losing one means losing the other.
I hope things go well for you,
Nadezda
This is the end of the thread.
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