Posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 1:26:22
In reply to Parnate Success Stories?, posted by craig getty on October 31, 2003, at 18:59:35
> Anyone out there have any success with Parnate? Tell me about it - what symptoms did you take it for; dosage; how long to feel benefit; side effects.
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> How did compare to other meds you had taken in the past (including Nardil)?OK-I'm back! here's the scoop on my Parnate success. Started with it in '84 and used it consistently up until 2002 with just a few attempts to go AD-free, which always ended in another depressive episode and having to go back on the Parnate. When I re-start it, I've increased this way: 20 mg. for 2 days, 30 mg. for 3 days, then a kick off dose of 40 mg. In my case, it usually takes about 3 weeks to kick in but on one occasion, it kicked in after about 18 days; on another occasion, about 27 days. After about a month or two of feeling asymptomatic, I'll drop the dose to 30 mg. and stay there indefinitely.
This wonder drug knocks out all the symptoms of my depression including: anhedonia, loss of interest in sex, decreased appetite and weight loss, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, fear (which is manifest in bad anxiety and heart palpitations), early waking and sleep deficit, vague suicidal thoughts. I get to feel like a human being again.
My side effects have been: low pressure and light headedness for the first week or two, increased craving for sweets and carbohydrates, which restores my weight (this is unusual since most Parnate users report weight loss), dry mouth at the beginning, and reduced need for sleep or *tolerable* insomnia that does not go away.
I adhere closely to the diet restrictions; and even though they've been liberalized, I'm still afraid of having any pizza --i just can't shake my fear of a hypertensive crisis because of all the years I was adhering to the old guidelines.
That's just a personal decision.
As far as other meds go, I made the stupid decision to try some of the newer ADs last year and will never forget the black hole I fell into as a result:
Remeron--it seemed to work for a while, but pooped outZoloft--it messed up my sex circuitry which normally runs at about 2000 volts and it didn't do anything to quash my anxiety.
Aurorix (moclobemide) (not available in U.S.)--had no benefit whatever and it probably made my depression worse. This stuff was like poison for me.
Will never try anything else again and they'd better keep on making the Parnate!So I wound up going back to the U.S. to get my usual year's supply of Parnate, and within 3 weeks, the debilitating depression was gone. That's my success story. I only wish that everyone who takes Parnate could be this lucky.
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poster:cubbybear
thread:275372
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031030/msgs/275681.html