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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jedi on July 30, 2007, at 22:42:09
Hi Guys,
I am off MAOIs after most of ten years on Nardil with two trials of Parnate and multiple other meds mixed in. I have been off Nardil for five months and Parnate for two months. My major depression has not returned, but I feel anything but normal. I am also taking 2mg daily of clonazepam which I increased from 1mg when I switched from Nardil to Parnate five months ago.I would like to here from any long term MAOI users who have quit. I still have dysthymia which has been with me since my teenage years. I am now fifty. My major fear is the return of major depression which has happened each time I have quit Nardil over the past ten years. I may end up being a lifer on MAOIs, there are worst things, major depression being one of them.
Anyway, specifically I am wondering if anyone considers themselves cured of major depression? How long does it take, after many years on MAOIs, to feel normal? And what is normal? My major depressions have been life threatening. I will go back on Nardil if I feel it returning. I would really like to feel good without MAOIs, has anyone been able to?
Thanks,
Jedi
Posted by OzLand on July 30, 2007, at 23:31:59
In reply to Withdrawal after long term MAOI treatment., posted by Jedi on July 30, 2007, at 22:42:09
I went off Parnate in 1992, I think it was, and I was on no antidepressants until 2005. Everything under the sun was tried, and I went back on Parnate. It has been working again. I guess it just depends on one's situation. I am in therapy now as I was then and am dealing with some unfinished business I should have dealt with back then. I do not expect to be on an antidepressant all my life. What makes you think you might need to be other than you get depressed when you try to go off of an MAOI? Are you in therapy? Are there things in your life that contribute to depression? Wondering about your thoughts.
OzLand
Posted by Jedi on July 31, 2007, at 12:33:39
In reply to Re: Withdrawal after long term MAOI treatment. » Jedi, posted by OzLand on July 30, 2007, at 23:31:59
> I went off Parnate in 1992, I think it was, and I was on no antidepressants until 2005. Everything under the sun was tried, and I went back on Parnate. It has been working again. I guess it just depends on one's situation. I am in therapy now as I was then and am dealing with some unfinished business I should have dealt with back then. I do not expect to be on an antidepressant all my life. What makes you think you might need to be other than you get depressed when you try to go off of an MAOI? Are you in therapy? Are there things in your life that contribute to depression? Wondering about your thoughts.
>
> OzLandHi OzLand,
The reason I fear I may be on antidepressants for the rest of my life is mine is an endogenous depression with no real issues that seem to have caused it. Depression, drug addiction, and alcoholism run on both sides of my family. I have had at least three first cousins who have suicided. My mother was psychotically depressed in her forties and has been on meds for it ever since. There is also schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease in my extended family.I have been in extended therapy in the past, but I'm not currently. I've been on at least forty different antidepressant combinations. The only thing that ever really worked for me was Nardil augmented with clonazepam.
Thanks for asking,
Jedi
Posted by Sigismund on August 4, 2007, at 21:50:46
In reply to Re: Withdrawal after long term MAOI treatment. » OzLand, posted by Jedi on July 31, 2007, at 12:33:39
Jedi
If you keep away from MAOIs, are there any supplementy type things you can take to try to maximise your chances of staying OK?
I know you take fish oil.
There must be other things that could be protective or useful.
(It really is a bit different, but I have started adding 200mg SAMe in the morning to my tianeptine.)
You have a high protein diet, for example?
That be any use, combined with pyridoxal-5-phosphate and Vit C?
Posted by Juliana on August 14, 2007, at 0:47:14
In reply to Withdrawal after long term MAOI treatment., posted by Jedi on July 30, 2007, at 22:42:09
I've been on Nardil and in the past Parnate. It has been about 6 years after many years of trying to find the right meds to stop compulsivie suicidal thoughts and major depression episodes. Let me correct myself...I'm still depressed, fighting every day, and fall into episodes of coma like stupors of major depressions. I'm very frustrated with nardil. Maybe this is the best I can be...but, I'd like to believe differently. In terms of the person who offered that they have been free of MAOI's...i'm truly happy for you. I wish the same for myself and I understand the fear of falling apart when trying to get off of Nardil. I've been there. I want to try Cymbalta. I resigned myself to never having a sexual life. Sort of a martyr out look...I gave up a lot for a bit of peace of mind and it's just not enough anymore. I'm ready to go into the hospital for the fifth time now and get off of the Nardil and try Cymbalta. I have to wait for the right time...afterall, I'm a depressive with a history of ptsd and a genetic propensity towards workaholism.
Has anyone made the switch sucessfully and what is it that people out there find the most upsetting about being on a MAOI. i'm frustrated.
Thanks for listening.
juliana
Posted by 49er on October 28, 2007, at 14:16:43
In reply to Withdrawal after long term MAOI treatment., posted by Jedi on July 30, 2007, at 22:42:09
Hi Jedi,
In 2006, I started tapering off of 4 psych meds after being on them for over 10 years. I am now down to two and will keep going until I am off of them. Even though they didn't involve MAOIs, one of my diagnosis' was depression.
I am not sure what you mean by cured of major depression. If you mean does it paralize me, the answer is no and this is in spite of dealing with the near loss of a family member plus job instability.
Being depressed is a human emotion and what I have learned when I do have it is to pay attention to what is going on. When I do that, the depressions tend to be short lived.
One thing I am also doing is taking nutritional supplements. As one who used to think alternative medicine was a big time dirty word, I laugh out loud at the irony of this. But they have helped keep my moods stable and thus, I am better able to see when I am going down a path I don't want to go down.
Please understand I am not saying that because I can do this, so can everyone. I don't know what your sitatuion is. But I do want to give you hope and that is why I responded.
Finally, when you finally quit a med, please understand that withdrawal symptoms can take alot longer than you think they do. People on the paxil progress boards reported not feeling well until about two years after they took their last pill. But alot of those people CTd their meds which is not a good idea.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
49er
Posted by Questionmark on November 6, 2007, at 3:05:55
In reply to Re: Withdrawal after long term MAOI treatment., posted by 49er on October 28, 2007, at 14:16:43
49er,
I just wanted to say that i thought there was a lot of wisdom in what you said in your post.
Although nothing profound, I especially admire the following statement: "Please understand I am not saying that because I can do this, so can everyone. I don't know what your sitation is. But I do want to give you hope and that is why I responded."
You are also right in saying that withdrawal symptoms can take a lot longer to fully abate than we would often guess.And to Jedi and Juliana,
I am a four year Nardil veteran, and both times I have tried to quit have resulted (eventually) in the emergence of an even more painful, unremitting despair. I understand too that even with how much better one feels with Nardil, living with what should be unnecessary side effects gets old and ... yeah. But... I don't know. I'm sorry. i have to go to sleep. But don't give up on Nardil. And... Ah crap i have nothing to offer than you don't already know. But...
I wish you luck.
I wish you luck.
> Hi Jedi,
>
> In 2006, I started tapering off of 4 psych meds after being on them for over 10 years. I am now down to two and will keep going until I am off of them. Even though they didn't involve MAOIs, one of my diagnosis' was depression.
>
> I am not sure what you mean by cured of major depression. If you mean does it paralize me, the answer is no and this is in spite of dealing with the near loss of a family member plus job instability.
>
> Being depressed is a human emotion and what I have learned when I do have it is to pay attention to what is going on. When I do that, the depressions tend to be short lived.
>
> One thing I am also doing is taking nutritional supplements. As one who used to think alternative medicine was a big time dirty word, I laugh out loud at the irony of this. But they have helped keep my moods stable and thus, I am better able to see when I am going down a path I don't want to go down.
>
> Please understand I am not saying that because I can do this, so can everyone. I don't know what your sitatuion is. But I do want to give you hope and that is why I responded.
>
> Finally, when you finally quit a med, please understand that withdrawal symptoms can take alot longer than you think they do. People on the paxil progress boards reported not feeling well until about two years after they took their last pill. But alot of those people CTd their meds which is not a good idea.
>
> Anyway, I hope this helps.
>
> 49er
This is the end of the thread.
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