Posted by Crazy Horse on April 15, 2006, at 8:16:06
In reply to Nardil Euphoria, posted by MalcolmS on April 14, 2006, at 0:42:42
> Hi: I started on Nardil about 2 1/2 months ago and for the first month or so...nothing. Then one fine day it kicked in and I thought I had finally found something that relieved the tremendous social anxiety I've felt for all these years (I'm a 41 yo male).
>
> I mean I was in a state of euphoria, unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I felt on top of the world, master of the universe, able to initiate conversations with anyone and for the first time in my life, I felt engaged with people around me and with the world. I mean it was f*cking FANTASTIC!!!
>
> Of course, this has come with some side effects, mainly a terrible case of insomnia (I was on 90 mgs and per my doc's strict instructions, am now on 75 mgs, taken all at once, in the AM). The only way to describe it was that was like I had 8 or 9 cocktails, without ever being drunk. Of course, my gait and driving started to become effected, so my doc reduced the dosage to the 75 mgs.
>
> I felt that I could literally handle anything, job interviews, and during this high I even enrolled in a bartending class (which starts this Monday).
>
> The thing is that now that initial euphoric state has now greatly diminished and I'm worried that I'm going to start regressing to the way I was pre-Nardil. (I even have started referring to my life as pre-Nardil and post-Nardil).
>
> My psych admitted that he didn't have any experience with Nardil at all and was very reluctant to prescribe a med that was potentially so dangerous (I OD'd about five years ago on Imipramine and came very close to actually dying).
>
> Anyway, sorry to be so long-winded but my question for folks out there who have either been on Nardil or have some knowledge of the drug is: will this state of euphoria return by increasing the dose of the med? Like I said, I am on 75 mgs and my doc is adamant that I not increase it. He even warned me that I am playing with fire and that I would get burned if I don't listen to him.
>
> I think that he needs to be educated but of course, like all docs he wants to play it safe. He says that I will have ups and downs and the only way to guage it's long-term effectiveness is to remain on a steady dose for a while (I'm not sure how long "a while" is).
>
> Again, I'm really afraid that I'm starting to regress to my pre-Nardil personality and I desperately don't want that to happen.
>
> Alternately, what about switching to another MAO like Parnate, etc?
>
> Again, the last few weeks have been like a dream to me. I've woken up every day asking myself: DO I EVEN DESERVE TO FEEL THIS WONDERFUL?
>
> Malcolm S.
Hi Malcolm,I can understand how you are feeling, because i've been through the same thing. I also suffer from social anxiety disorder, and it sucks, because i like being around people, talking, laughing, etc. , but without a well working AD I feel uncomfortable.
Here's my opinion/experience after 25 years of this illness and many, many medications.
The euphoria feeling,(I've had it too, both on Nardil and Parnate) will go away. I wish it would stay too, hell who wouldn't? Feeling "great" all the time, on top of the world, not afraid of anything..kind of hypomanic. This feeling unfortunately just isn't normal. Even "normal People" who claim they feel good all the time, don't feel like this. As with any drug/medication that great initial "buzz" evenually wanes. Actually, to be too euphoric can be dangerous, a person in a continous state of euphoria or mania can end up harming himself or others by taking abnormal risks...feeling invinceable, nothing can stop me attitude, etc.Sorry, but it's just a fact of life i'm affraid, the body/brains way of actually protecting us.
But the good new is that if you stay with your med (I found this to be true of Parnate) you can still feel good. You will even out, and become more "normal" , able to be social, increased confidence, less or no anxiety...you won't feel invinceable, but you can feel well.
Sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear. That Euphoric sate does feel great...I loved it too, but it's just not realistic to feel that way all the time. I wish you the very best, and i agree with the others, upping the dose eventually and counciling may help. Good Luck.-Crazy Horse
poster:Crazy Horse
thread:632925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060412/msgs/633387.html