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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Judy on May 8, 1999, at 14:09:09
I've been being treated for severe depression for 12 years now. My patient records look like a large city's Yellow Pages they are so thick with all the AD's I've tried and failed on. Only Nardil (an MAOI) works - and WORKS WELL- for me; however the side effects (water retention leading to serious edema, major difficulty at urinating, total anorgasmia, etc.) are so terrible that I eventually have to give it up and disappear into my black hole again.
I have just recently weaned off of Nardil for the third time and tried Serzone. Serzone was my worst nightmare - trying to wake up in the morning was like coming out of anesthesia and I never achieved total alertness at any time during the day. (This is bad for me - one of the symptoms of my depression is hyposomnia, so I don't need an AD that causes it.) I've had similar experiences with the other SSRI's (had similar fatigue problems that never abated). I've also tried the tricyclics, lithium, and eldepryl (an MAOI-Type B). My doctor won't prescribe Moclobemide (MAOI-Type A) because it's not approved by the FDA.
My doctor has now suggested Effexor, claiming it is totally different from all the others. Is there anyone out there who only responded well to MAOI's but has since found something else that worked well without such severe side effects? My doctor's only other suggestions are to combine two or more AD's and try for a good balance - or ECT which scares the heck out of me!
I have to make my decision on Wednesday. Do I try something new or go back to Nardil again just to get my had on straight?
I realize (especially after reading almost all of this website) that everyone is a "snowflake" (totally individual) when it comes to the efficacy and/or side effects of AD's; but I'd still like to hear from someone who's been where I am right now.
Posted by saintjames on May 8, 1999, at 19:46:36
In reply to Have to Stop MAOI - Suggestions on 2nd Choice?, posted by Judy on May 8, 1999, at 14:09:09
> I've been being treated for severe depression for 12 years now. My patient records look like a large city's Yellow Pages they are so thick with all the AD's I've tried and failed on. Only Nardil (an MAOI) works - and WORKS WELL- for me; however the side effects (water retention leading to serious edema, major difficulty at urinating, total anorgasmia, etc.) are so terrible that I eventually have to give it up and disappear into my black hole again.
>
James here.....Try a combo...they work for many when mono drug treatment does not.
james
Posted by Elizabeth on May 9, 1999, at 0:39:11
In reply to Have to Stop MAOI - Suggestions on 2nd Choice?, posted by Judy on May 8, 1999, at 14:09:09
My situation is a little bit different: I got on MAOIs because I couldn't tolerate tricyclics long enough to give them an adequate trial.
Effexor did work for me, but I got what I'm guessing was serotonin syndrome on it and had to stop.
Another thing that's worth trying is Remeron. Don't be put off if it causes somnolence and appetite stimulation at low doses; these side effects actually are supposed to get better as you raise the dose.
Both Remeron and Effexor may work in people who haven't responded to some of the other antidepressants that are around.
One other thing you might consider is high-dose (60-90mg) BuSpar. It works as an antidepressant at those doses.
Anyway I don't know exactly what you've tried so I can't give an exhaustive list of other things to try, but these suggestions hopefully are a start.
Posted by v on May 9, 1999, at 5:50:19
In reply to Re: Have to Stop MAOI - Suggestions on 2nd Choice?, posted by Elizabeth on May 9, 1999, at 0:39:11
The only AD that had ever worked for me in the past was Nardil. But like you, the side effects were insane! then when i gained 60lbs in 6 weeks, i freaked out and went off it.
now, many years and many ads later, i have gotten some relief from effexor.
good luck...
regards,
v> My situation is a little bit different: I got on MAOIs because I couldn't tolerate tricyclics long enough to give them an adequate trial.
>
> Effexor did work for me, but I got what I'm guessing was serotonin syndrome on it and had to stop.
>
> Another thing that's worth trying is Remeron. Don't be put off if it causes somnolence and appetite stimulation at low doses; these side effects actually are supposed to get better as you raise the dose.
>
> Both Remeron and Effexor may work in people who haven't responded to some of the other antidepressants that are around.
>
> One other thing you might consider is high-dose (60-90mg) BuSpar. It works as an antidepressant at those doses.
>
> Anyway I don't know exactly what you've tried so I can't give an exhaustive list of other things to try, but these suggestions hopefully are a start.
Posted by Jaime on May 13, 1999, at 8:46:14
In reply to Re: Have to Stop MAOI - Suggestions on 2nd Choice?, posted by v on May 9, 1999, at 5:50:19
I used moclobemide )here in Mexico is called AUROREX > and is the only MAOI available. The social security give to the atipical depressed people.). It works for me for about 10 years. It does not have the side efects that have, NARDIL, MARPLAN. I changed to NARDIL because it begin to dosent work.
Let a chance with AUROREXThe only AD that had ever worked for me in the past was Nardil. But like you, the side effects were insane! then when i gained 60lbs in 6 weeks, i freaked out and went off it.
>
> now, many years and many ads later, i have gotten some relief from effexor.
>
> good luck...
>
> regards,
> v
>
> > My situation is a little bit different: I got on MAOIs because I couldn't tolerate tricyclics long enough to give them an adequate trial.
> >
> > Effexor did work for me, but I got what I'm guessing was serotonin syndrome on it and had to stop.
> >
> > Another thing that's worth trying is Remeron. Don't be put off if it causes somnolence and appetite stimulation at low doses; these side effects actually are supposed to get better as you raise the dose.
> >
> > Both Remeron and Effexor may work in people who haven't responded to some of the other antidepressants that are around.
> >
> > One other thing you might consider is high-dose (60-90mg) BuSpar. It works as an antidepressant at those doses.
> >
> > Anyway I don't know exactly what you've tried so I can't give an exhaustive list of other things to try, but these suggestions hopefully are a start.
Posted by Ruth on May 18, 1999, at 20:46:09
In reply to Re: Have to Stop MAOI - Suggestions on 2nd Choice?, posted by Jaime on May 13, 1999, at 8:46:14
I was on parnate for a year and a half and stopped it because of side effects- oversleeping being one of them. I was worried about coming off it because it had been helpful. I'm now on celexa which seems to be helping. I had been on other SSRIs before without response but this one seems to work. It is frustrating, but the reality is that it truly is a matter of trial and error.
I also had a course of ECT prior to the parnate. It got me out of the deep depression and so I guess I'd have to say it was effective. But I've had a very hard time with the memory loss, so I would encourage you to try other medications first, unless your immediate safety is at stake.
Good luck to you.> I used moclobemide )here in Mexico is called AUROREX > and is the only MAOI available. The social security give to the atipical depressed people.). It works for me for about 10 years. It does not have the side efects that have, NARDIL, MARPLAN. I changed to NARDIL because it begin to dosent work.
> Let a chance with AUROREX
>
>
>
>
>
> The only AD that had ever worked for me in the past was Nardil. But like you, the side effects were insane! then when i gained 60lbs in 6 weeks, i freaked out and went off it.
> >
> > now, many years and many ads later, i have gotten some relief from effexor.
> >
> > good luck...
> >
> > regards,
> > v
> >
> > > My situation is a little bit different: I got on MAOIs because I couldn't tolerate tricyclics long enough to give them an adequate trial.
> > >
> > > Effexor did work for me, but I got what I'm guessing was serotonin syndrome on it and had to stop.
> > >
> > > Another thing that's worth trying is Remeron. Don't be put off if it causes somnolence and appetite stimulation at low doses; these side effects actually are supposed to get better as you raise the dose.
> > >
> > > Both Remeron and Effexor may work in people who haven't responded to some of the other antidepressants that are around.
> > >
> > > One other thing you might consider is high-dose (60-90mg) BuSpar. It works as an antidepressant at those doses.
> > >
> > > Anyway I don't know exactly what you've tried so I can't give an exhaustive list of other things to try, but these suggestions hopefully are a start.
This is the end of the thread.
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