Posted by jedi on March 23, 2012, at 18:56:31
In reply to Nardil horrible side effects, posted by strata on March 12, 2012, at 18:00:19
I have been on Nardil for most of the past 14 years. There is nothing like it for atypical depression with social anxiety. I have tapered off Nardil about 5 or 6 times in that 14 year period. Each time thinking that maybe I could live without the medication. Within a matter of months, each time, my major depression returned. I'm a lifer but will probably always keep trying.
This last period off of Nardil felt so good but after many good months several major life stressors combined to precipitate another bout of major depression. My depression is actually double depression, since I always have a residual dysthymia even when my major depression is controlled. This last major depression was very painful and I started back on Nardil and raised my dosage fairly quickly to 120mg.
I had most of the side effects you mentioned and slowly went back down to 60mg, which is the lowest dose that works for my major depression. My orthostatic hypotension was the worse it has ever been at 120mg. I actually passed out a couple of times. I was dehydrated and it just hit me bad for a short time. I have never passed out from hypotension in the past. I control the insomnia with 50mg of Benadryl and .5mg of clonazepam. The delayed ejaculation always improves, but sometimes takes several months. When I am at over 60mg of Nardil sometimes I will have complete anorgasmia. At 60mg, at least for me, orgasm will still be delayed but not absent.
You have to be careful with weight gain. Nardil will cause cravings for sweet carbohydrates. I can also change your metabolism where it is much easier to eat past the feeling of being full. I control this with a low carb diet and lots of exercise. Talk to your Dr. before starting a low carb diet. It can cause dehydration and make the orthostatic hypotension much worse.
I am one of the lucky ones that Nardil always works for my major depression. 45+ other combinations of antidepressants and augmenters did not work for me. Stick to your 60mg. Most of the side effects will go away or get much better.
In my opinion, there is no pain worse than major depression. I live with the residual side effects. They do get better with time.
Good Luck,
Jedi> Anyone else struggling with Nardil side effects? Namely cant ejaculate, feel like fainting when I stand up, feel bloated as cant pee properly (Urinary retention). They are quite tough but not as tough as suicidal depression and the nardil seems to be helping me. My doc is bringing it down from 90mg to 60mg Ive only been on it for a couple of months and I hope this will sort out the side effects but keep the benefical mood lifting effects.
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> Ive been on a lot of meds and never had any side effects but Nardil seems to be super crazy for side effects. My doc actually said to me "This is like no other drug youve been on". I always said as long as my depression got a bit better i wouldnt complain about the side effects but Nardil is CRAZY, the side effects are tough at the moment. Has anyone else had really bad side effects in the beginning and did they go away eventually?
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> This is my first post so please be kind
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> Take care
Jedi
Treatment resistant, atypical, double depression with social anxiety.
Nardil + clonazepam
poster:jedi
thread:1012902
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120316/msgs/1013728.html