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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by trees on October 25, 2011, at 12:18:34
Hi Everybody, I am a Newbie and glad to be here. I I have come to this site over the years but this time I wanted to join because I read some reassuring posts about MAOI success stories and I recently read an article from the Psychiatric Times regarding their efficacy in Anergic (or Atypical) Depression.
My question: Is there a way to locate and contact a psychiatrist who works alongside their clients and who is willing and not afraid to prescribe MAOIs?
I am American but I live in Italy where I have had very frustrating experiences with psychiatrists. Many of them were offended even when I just asked for the reasons of their decisions about my meds. They believe I have no right to know their rationale.
I am so desperate now I am at the point of taking a plane back to the U.S.A. to find a modern psychiatrist.
Thanks in advance for any tips.
trees
Posted by europerep on October 25, 2011, at 12:46:40
In reply to Anergic depression and MAOIs, posted by trees on October 25, 2011, at 12:18:34
Hello!
The first question would be, what MAOIs are available in Italy. If I remember correctly, there is only tranylcypromine, and that in a weird combination with trifluoperazine, an antipsychotic (brand name Parmodalin). I'm not sure whether phenelzine is available in Italy, and if your depression is indeed atypical, phenelzine may be the best place to look at in terms of MAOIs.
There are other countries in Europe where phenelzine is available, such as Belgium, Luxembourg and the UK. I'm not sure whether you have any possibility to go there.
That said, there are also ways for you to get MAOIs via an online pharmacy. That may be a little more expensive, but probably less so than going back to the US for a script. I'm not sure whether I can link to such a site on here though. But it would of course be the best thing to get a prescription from a doctor who accompanies you during treatment. In general, older psychiatrists and university psychiatrists are more willing to consider MAOIs. Maybe you have a chance to go to some university clinic as an outpatient? Off the top of my head, I would suggest Florence (Firenze)...
Hope that helps... let me know if you need more information...
ER
Posted by trees on October 25, 2011, at 13:11:11
In reply to Re: Anergic depression and MAOIs » trees, posted by europerep on October 25, 2011, at 12:46:40
Sounds like very good advice. I will definitely check out the university hospitals and the elders.
And, yes, England and Belgium are closer than the USA.
Thank you, ER.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 26, 2011, at 5:27:43
In reply to Re: Anergic depression and MAOIs » trees, posted by europerep on October 25, 2011, at 12:46:40
www.internationalpharmacy.com
you can buy phenelzine and tranylcypromine from america there, and have it shipped to europe
they arnt back yarders, the meds are genuian american products
Posted by europerep on October 26, 2011, at 12:31:04
In reply to Re: Anergic depression and MAOIs, posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 26, 2011, at 5:27:43
> www.internationalpharmacy.com
As far as I see, you need a prescription in order to have drugs shipped to Italy. I assume this is the site lamdage referred to earlier. He ordered Nardil to a hotel in Switzerland, because for orders to Switzerland a prescription is not needed. I wrote his name in the title for my post, maybe he'll see it and explain how he did it. I guess he had it shipped to
<his name>
c/o Hilton Hotel Zurich
...or something like that. Not sure whether he stayed at the Hilton though ;)...
Posted by trees on October 26, 2011, at 12:45:37
In reply to @ Lamdage!, posted by europerep on October 26, 2011, at 12:31:04
Hi europrep. I thought it was jono from adelaide who suggested the website. thanks for the tip regarding Switzerland. a trip over the border is easy enough.
Posted by europerep on October 26, 2011, at 15:38:48
In reply to Re: Hilton, posted by trees on October 26, 2011, at 12:45:37
Yes that's correct, it was him who suggested the website. I just remembered that a different member talked about this Switzerland thing, so I posted that info...
If you do decide to go ahead with an MAOI trial from an online pharmacy, make sure to read REALLY WELL all the info that is here and in other places on the internet about MAOIs. Food lists, drug interactions (it's not just meperidine and tramadol), and so on. This stuff is really important.
Posted by trees on October 26, 2011, at 19:04:15
In reply to Re: Hilton » trees, posted by europerep on October 26, 2011, at 15:38:48
Yes, I would like to start with the patches but they are hard to find online at a decent price.
I am going to start tapering off the Efexor for at least 14 days. I currently have low blood pressure on 75 mg Efexor extended release twice daily. However, paradoxical reactions can happen. so I plan to see a psychiatrist in the mean time. If i get a categorical refusal from the university specialists, I will start looking into alternate routes to find the patches or tabs. I know all about the dietary restrictions.
I think Efexor is the cause of my extreme fatigue. So i intend to gradually taper off it. I have gone off it in the past and, after the initial headache and lower GI spasms, I experience several months of "coasting" with a perfect mood and some tiredness but manageable, and lots of joie du vivre. Then after the period of coasting for several months, there comes a day when the molecule has completely left my system and I feel like a car that has run out of gasoline. I slow down to a halt, and cannot move from my couch. I try to resist but feel such a deathly mood that I take one 75 mg cap and it feels like a cocaine high (but more serene) within half an hour. This optimal state, with one tab a day, lasts for a few days. Maybe because I become acclimated to the good mood or because it dips back down a bit.
My brain needs to be tricked or teased with varying doses of this molecule. Otherwise, I reach homeostasis.
What are your thoughts/experiences in this regard?
This is the end of the thread.
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