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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MBW on July 26, 2010, at 16:13:15
First Time long Time - ie., have followed this board for a long time (over 10 years) but never posted. I'll try not to go into my long-winded saga lasting 20+ years but here's the best I can do to keep short. I was on parnate many years ago with success but went off after @ 8 years because effects seem to diminish. Complete crash and into hospital. Tried many other meds for quite a few years with only moderate success. Around 2 years ago thought we'd give parnate another try but not very effective. In fact another recent hospitalization while on parnate. I would like to get off again, doc says many other options if we can eliminate the MAOI, but I'm very fearful. I'm looking to see if there are any who have successfully tapered off parnate with minimal withdraw - overwhelming anxiety and the subsequent dark depression. If there are success stories, wondering how long it took. I just recently went from 50 to 40mgs. Any success stories would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Posted by Phillipa on July 27, 2010, at 0:17:33
In reply to Parnate Taper, posted by MBW on July 26, 2010, at 16:13:15
Don't have a story but wishing you the best of luck and hope those who have reply. Phillipa
Posted by MBW on July 27, 2010, at 9:04:12
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper » MBW, posted by Phillipa on July 27, 2010, at 0:17:33
Thanks Phillipa. I've been on the board and have seen posts talking about it, usually with the response that one should go slowly but I'm just looking for someone who has managed to do so without completely crashing. It's hell now so I need to get off - I have to try something different. I appreciate your response.
Posted by bearfan on July 27, 2010, at 15:18:20
In reply to Parnate Taper, posted by MBW on July 26, 2010, at 16:13:15
What about trying another MAOI like Nardil, Marplan, Emsam or Manerix?
Posted by MBW on July 29, 2010, at 21:16:41
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper, posted by bearfan on July 27, 2010, at 15:18:20
Tried the Emsam but didn't do much. I thought about Nardil but based on most of the posts I read it appears that everyone prefers parnate so I don't want to go on another MAOI and wait the washout period if it doesn't work. I'll have to talk to doc - he is very aggressive but I think he likes the idea of having more options without the MAOI. It's really frustrating. Thanks for the response
Posted by Justherself54 on July 29, 2010, at 22:11:28
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan, posted by MBW on July 29, 2010, at 21:16:41
Parnate and Nardil are two totally different experiences. I would still be on Nardil, if the side effects weren't so bad. The total relief from depression was wonderful and I was not just able, but wanted, to socialize. It may be a med that merits a second look.
Posted by MBW on July 30, 2010, at 16:59:20
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan, posted by Justherself54 on July 29, 2010, at 22:11:28
What type of side effects? It looks like weight gain is a biggie. I saw some posts where there was a 50 pound weight gain. That might be tough to handle but right now I might give it a try. The anxiety I feel on parnate is absolutely ubelievable which of course ultimately leads in to a complete depressive breakdown. The really strange thing to me is that I also take metadate. It's a stimulant yet calms me down. How is that possible?
Posted by Justherself54 on July 30, 2010, at 20:59:11
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan, posted by MBW on July 30, 2010, at 16:59:20
The side effect that was a deal breaker for me was for some reason I would vomit in my sleep. It most certainly is a strange side effect, but my doctors thought it was too risky to continue with it. I also had some urinary problems and of course the insomnia..but for depression and anxiety, it was a very effective medication.
Posted by MBW on July 31, 2010, at 14:58:35
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan » MBW, posted by Justherself54 on July 30, 2010, at 20:59:11
I'm sorry to keep bugging you but I was wondering if your anxiety seems to be separate from your depression. In the recent few months I almost always wake with a coursing anxiety that permeates throughout my body and is unbearable. Like I said, that then leads to significant depression and my thoughts are that it will never get better. There are days that I wake with depression but it's usually the anxiety - I don't know what comes firts, the chicken or the egg. I'm to the point where I want to give up. The only thing keeping me around are the thoughts of my wife and children going through life wondering why....
Posted by ed_uk2010 on July 31, 2010, at 15:51:02
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan, posted by MBW on July 29, 2010, at 21:16:41
>I thought about Nardil but based on most of the posts I read it appears that everyone prefers Parnate.........
Definitely not. Some people much prefer Nardil, especially for severe anxiety.
Posted by MBW on July 31, 2010, at 20:34:49
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan, posted by ed_uk2010 on July 31, 2010, at 15:51:02
Thanks ed_uk. Your response provides some hope which is in very short supply. I'm wondering if you've seen or heard success stories for Nardil AFTER one has been on Parnate successfully for some time. In other words, (I apologize if I'm repeating myself) the parnate did work for a number of years way back but began to fail. I went off and completely crashed - hospitalizations. Tried most of the SSRIs with little or not success thus tried parnate again. Didn't get the same relief with the second round of parnate - actually another hospitalization so I'm concerned that the MAOIs have run their course for me. I do like my doc, think he's very knowledgeable but he is new for me - prior doc retired and we cannot locate him to get my 25+ years history. Very frustrating. Sorry for the long post but most people on this board seem like genuinely helpful people so it's very encouraging to know others care and are willing to share their experiences. I truly appreciate it.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 5:10:44
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan » ed_uk2010, posted by MBW on July 31, 2010, at 20:34:49
>I'm wondering if you've seen or heard success stories for Nardil AFTER one has been on Parnate successfully for some time.
There have been numerous Nardil success stories reported on p-babble, some in people who tried Parnate previously, and some in people who started out with Nardil. I can't direct you to any specific cases of people who found Nardil effective after Parnate stopped working. This doesn't mean that there haven't been any such cases, it's just that I honestly can't remember so much detail! There have been so many posters on p-babble who take Nardil.
>I'm concerned that the MAOIs have run their course for me.
It seems that Parnate may have run its course for you. Nardil and Parnate are really quite different meds, they are not in any way interchangeable. I don't think that lack of efficacy on Parnate can reliably predict whether or not Nardil will work. Since you will already be familiar with the major MAOI issues such as the diet, and since you don't respond to common antidepressants such as SSRIs, I do think it makes sense for you to give Nardil a trial. You can start Nardil after you have been completely off Parnate for two weeks.
Posted by Justherself54 on August 1, 2010, at 11:26:53
In reply to Re: Parnate Taper bearfan » ed_uk2010, posted by MBW on July 31, 2010, at 20:34:49
For me, Parnate was more stimulating..most of the side effects of Nardil were physical..no increased anxiety when starting it and I was very socially motivated. It's a whole different feeling than Parnate. I hope you give it a whirl.
Posted by MBW on August 1, 2010, at 17:45:53
In reply to About Nardil » MBW, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 5:10:44
Thanks for both replies. I'll be meeting with Doc this week and see what he thinks.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 18:22:22
In reply to Re: About Nardil, posted by MBW on August 1, 2010, at 17:45:53
> Thanks for both replies. I'll be meeting with Doc this week and see what he thinks.
Excellent. Let us know what you decide.
This is the end of the thread.
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