Posted by jedi on November 23, 2008, at 3:12:27
In reply to Re: Parnate VS Nardil + Anxiety and social phobia, posted by Vincent_QC on November 22, 2008, at 17:36:04
Hi Vincent_QC,
I've been on Nardil for most of the past eleven years. I augment it with 2mg of clonazepam for my social anxiety. The four times I've been off Nardil, my major depression has always returned. Congratulations on finding such a progressive doctor in Canada. I hear from others that it is pretty rare to find one who will prescribe an irreversible MAOI there. Good luck on getting a stimulant added to Parnate, though. I doubt if even the progressive doctors in Canada are going to go for that one. It can be done with an experienced psychopharmacologist leading the way.I know from experience that nortriptyline(major metabolite of amitriptyline, both TCAs) can be used safely with Nardil. At least by me. Some even suggest that tyramine reactions are more rare when a MAOI is combined with nortriptyline or other TCAs with little or no affect on serotonin(desipramine). I'm not going to test that one, however.
One of the 45+ medication trials I've been on is Parnate. I wanted to try it mainly because of weight gain from Nardil. Unfortunately, I had a rare spontaneous hypertensive event while on Parnate. My BP is borderline high 145/80 when not on a MAOI. Nardil actually helps me in that regard by lowering my BP by some 20 points to around 125/65. Keeps me off a beta blocker. Maybe with your hypotension the Parnate will work better for you.
In my opinion, you really need to go to the next level in your own knowledge when taking an irreversible MAOI. So many MDs and pharmacists, not to mention emergency medical technicians know so very little about the MAOIs. This is especially true in Canada where they prescribe more of the reversible MAOI moclobemide. I would really consider a braclet that says "Taking MAOI, Parnate - No meperidine". The usual brand name for meperidine in the US is Demerol. Meperidine can cause serotonin syndrome when combined with an irreversible MAOI. Almost all of the over the counter cold remedies are dangerous with irreversible MAOIs. Dextromethorphan can cause serotonin syndrome. Pseudoephedrine can cause a hypertensive crisis. I believe meperidine is the most dangerous. You can die from the combination. It is even more dangerous because it is often used as an emergency pain killer. If you are in an accident and not coherent or in shock, you may not be able to tell the EMT not to give you that shot of meperidine.
I've been able to take straight codeine, no problem, with Nardil. I was in British Columbia a few years ago and was buying some codeine for a cough, since you can't buy it over the counter in the US. I didn't have my reading glasses so I could not read the fine print on the label. Some of those labels, I swear you need a magnifying glass to read them anyway. So since I could not read the label, I asked the pharmacist if the medication was safe with Nardil. She assured me that it was perfectly safe. After a trip to the ER with a terrible headache and a huge spike in BP, I found out that the codeine was mixed with pseudoephedrine. If she didn't know of the danger, all she had to do was look it up on the computer to learn that the two meds should not be taken together. Anyway, now I only trust my own knowledge and research when eating any foods or taking any medication with Nardil.
I've been able to lose weight on a high protein diet and lots of exercise even while on Nardil. I once went from 310 pounds to 230 over a period of about nine months. The problem with high protein diets, is if you ever quit and go back to the carbohydrates, the weight comes back so fast it will make your head spin. As a general rule Parnate will not pack on the pounds like Nardil does.
Good luck and be well,
Jedi
> Thanks ;-) Well, I will give a try for Parnate, if after 2 months I see no difference, maybe I will ask for the combo mix you said... Be back on the Nardil will not be a problem, but are you sure you can mix this with a TCA ( major gain weight on them generally) or a stimulant is a good idea??? And if I have to add a stimulant, witch one you recommend to me? I try the Ritalin and it was not very good, only about 1 hour of stimulation and after it's a pain in the *ss, you feel drained of all your energies...
>
> 6 months ago, I had a full check up of my blood and no thyroid problem was found, it was the target since my mom had a problem with that.
>
> I just gain weight more fast than a normal person. One thing I notice also, every time i'm back on an antidepressant drug, I gain weight, but I also eat more, I smooke more cigarettes and I tend to drink more coffee...that's strange...
poster:jedi
thread:864607
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081114/msgs/864817.html