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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 teepee on July 27, 2014, at 23:07:54
I have been taking Parnate for several years and it has really taken away the depths of major depression that I felt before. I would consider it fairly successful as I don't feel like I have any real ongoing side effects and I don't feel drugged or anything like that.
However, when I occasionally intentionally skip a night of sleep (google Sleep Deprivation and depression for more info), the next day I feel alive and smart and engaged and social and motivated and happy in a way that I don't feel with just Parnate.
Does this mean that Parnate isn't really doing the trick for me? Is this great feeling that I experience with sleep deprivation truly what life without depression feels like and what I should be striving to find in a medication or is it a feeling that one can only really hope to achieve through sleep deprivation?
Hope that makes some sense....
THX!
Posted by johnLA on July 28, 2014, at 0:18:58
In reply to Sleep Deprivation vs. Meds for Depression???, posted by teepee on July 27, 2014, at 23:07:54
hi teepee-
yes, i can say when i deprive myself of sleep and, then i do get some good/deep sleep i definitely feel better. and yes, i have read about this 'treatment' for depression.
this is a difficult way to mange depression though. also, some people can suffer from psychosis if the become too sleep deprived regardless if they have mental health issues or not.
sigh.
mixed-bag of an answer for you. and, me too.
i have no idea about the parnate part of your question. depression is so strange. it can ebb and flow under so many different conditions.
maybe talk to your doc about all this? i think the good news is that you know your brain can feel 'good.' it's a very good thing to remember when the bad times come. it gives me hope. i hope it does for you too.
john
Posted by alexandra_k on July 28, 2014, at 0:38:02
In reply to Sleep Deprivation vs. Meds for Depression???, posted by teepee on July 27, 2014, at 23:08:51
i've noticed altering my sleep wake cycle alters things for me, for sure.
when i'm left to my own devices my natural sleep wake cycle fairly much reverses. i'll want to sleep as the sun comes up and sleep till the afternoon. i'll also sleep 10 or 12 hours... well... i'll sort of wake up and then assess that i still feel tired so i'll doze... quite some time before i feel like getting up.
i think i feel better on more like... 8 hours sleep. 7 or 6... i can do for a while... but i'll need a 'reset day' (decent sleep in) one day per week... it is weird... i guess objectively i'd say i'm a little sleep deprived... feel a little buzzy... a little anxious... but not depressed so much as buzzing along...
too much sleep deprivation and i go a little manic...
i wonder if instead of viewing it as an either / or if there might be some kind of blend... e.g., setting an alarm clock to get you up at the same time each day then figuring out (gradually) how many hours is optimal for you.
i can never manage it unless i have an external deadline
Posted by Phillipa on July 28, 2014, at 9:41:10
In reply to Re: Sleep Deprivation vs. Meds for Depression??? » teepee, posted by johnLA on July 28, 2014, at 0:18:58
I agree with John LA. Just wanted to add it reminds me of someone that is in the manic phase of bipolar feel great until either psychosis takes over or the person receives the proper medication and then they sleep and begin to feel better. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on July 28, 2014, at 17:16:22
In reply to Sleep Deprivation vs. Meds for Depression???, posted by teepee on July 27, 2014, at 23:07:54
Studies show that sleep deprivation can reverse depression. I would ask as much of your antidepressant. Maybe you need to augment the parnate.
Eric
Posted by babbler20 on July 30, 2014, at 0:31:33
In reply to Sleep Deprivation vs. Meds for Depression???, posted by teepee on July 27, 2014, at 23:07:54
Hi, this is an interesting question. I used to take parnate and it worked really well for my depression, but it caused major insomnia issues for me and after a year of being ridiculously happy and sleep deprived, I had to get off. I swear the only reason Parnate worked for me was through the effects of the sleep deprivation that it caused. Nothing has deprived me of REM sleep as much as Parnate and consequently nothing has worked for my depression. I really think the sleep deprivation effect on mood is way more robust than any other medication can ever be.
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