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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 Regina on June 27, 2001, at 0:15:04
Has anyone been through parnate withdrawal who could tell me what to expect, if anything? What kinds of symptoms did you experience,when did they start, and how long did they last? I've been on 30 Mg for 5 weeks, and I'm still depressed. Five days ago I decreased to 20 mg/day.
Also, does anyone know of any good doctors in the San Francisco area for people who have tried just about every drug known to man? My doctor pretty much gave up.
Thanks a bunch!
Regina
Posted by Elizabeth on June 27, 2001, at 12:58:01
In reply to Parnate withdrawal, posted by Regina on June 27, 2001, at 0:15:04
> Has anyone been through parnate withdrawal who could tell me what to expect, if anything?
Taper slowly, and it shouldn't be too bad. Stop cold-turkey, and you could experience panic attacks, suicidal depression, extreme mood swings and irritability, nightmares, abnormal movements in sleep, lethargy, and hypersomnia. It's sort of like quitting amphetamines and benzodiazepines at the same time. < g > Again, this is if you stop abruptly; tapering by about 10 mg every 5-7 days may still produce withdrawal symptoms, but they will be much milder.
I've found benzodiazepines (Klonopin or Xanax) helpful in alleviating MAOI withdrawal symptoms, incidentally.
> Also, does anyone know of any good doctors in the San Francisco area for people who have tried just about every drug known to man? My doctor pretty much gave up.
Your doctor needs to get you some referrals then! (Sorry, I don't know anybody in the Bay area, just a really terrific guy in Santa Barbara.)
-elizabeth
Posted by Michael K on June 27, 2001, at 20:55:00
In reply to Re: Parnate withdrawal » Regina, posted by Elizabeth on June 27, 2001, at 12:58:01
> > Has anyone been through parnate withdrawal who could tell me what to expect, if anything?
>
> Taper slowly, and it shouldn't be too bad. Stop cold-turkey, and you could experience panic attacks, suicidal depression, extreme mood swings and irritability, nightmares, abnormal movements in sleep, lethargy, and hypersomnia. It's sort of like quitting amphetamines and benzodiazepines at the same time. < g > Again, this is if you stop abruptly; tapering by about 10 mg every 5-7 days may still produce withdrawal symptoms, but they will be much milder.
>
> I've found benzodiazepines (Klonopin or Xanax) helpful in alleviating MAOI withdrawal symptoms, incidentally.
>
> > Also, does anyone know of any good doctors in the San Francisco area for people who have tried just about every drug known to man? My doctor pretty much gave up.
>
> Your doctor needs to get you some referrals then! (Sorry, I don't know anybody in the Bay area, just a really terrific guy in Santa Barbara.)
>
> -elizabethRegina,
30 mg is a low dose of Parnate. You probably shouldn't be giving up on it yet, unless you've noticed no improvement at all. Having gone off of it several times in the past 12 years, I've always done it cold turkey. Otherwise, it was like cutting off my arm an inch at a time. I've never followed the same policy with other ADs. It just seems to work better that way with Parnate.
Mike
Posted by Elizabeth on June 28, 2001, at 0:13:06
In reply to Re: Parnate withdrawal, posted by Michael K on June 27, 2001, at 20:55:00
> 30 mg is a low dose of Parnate. You probably shouldn't be giving up on it yet, unless you've noticed no improvement at all.Good point! I'd say try to go higher even if there has been no improvement. 30mg is pretty much a minimal effective dose: some people need much, much more.
> Having gone off of it several times in the past 12 years, I've always done it cold turkey.
I've tried several different ways, and I have to agree that cold turkey is probably the best for me. But if you've only been on it for a few weeks, it can be a lot easier to taper. My reasons had to do with the washout perioid. I actually switched from Marplan to Parnate with only 2 days' washout (something you're *not* supposed to do) because my pdoc and I felt it was just too risky for me to do the slow taper.
> Otherwise, it was like cutting off my arm an inch at a time.
I love your simile. :-)
-elizabeth
Posted by blackjack on June 28, 2001, at 11:16:06
In reply to Parnate withdrawal, posted by Regina on June 27, 2001, at 0:15:04
As with any psych-med, your milage may vary considerably. I have been on Parnate twice (the most effective single med I've ever used) and had to go off it twice, because, in my case, even exceeding the maximum recommended dose, I began experienceing withdrawl symptoms when I was still taking the drug, and my depression relapsed to boot.
I got sysmptoms very similar to what some people get coming off of Effexor. I was very anxious, phobic, aggitated, confused and prone to random crying jags. In addition, I got the "brain lightning" electrical sensation so bad that I shouldn't have been driving (did anyway--lived to tell the tale), nightmares, and leg spasms in my sleep. I was also, for some reason, apologizing for everything I did and could not parallel park. All-in-all, it was one of the most singularly unpleasant experiences of my life.
The really annoying bit is that, unlike Effexor, you have to be really careful with taking anything to alleviate the sysmptoms until the Parnate has washed out of your system, since Parnate does not play nicely with other meds. I can't say that tapering helped (I tapered the first time, went off quickly the second), but I was getting these symptoms BEFORE I reduced my dosage.
The good news is, the symptoms were mostly gone (other than the relapse of depression) within 2 weeks. And keep in mind, I was on 3 times the dose you were, so I doubt it will be that bad.
I do agree that you might want to try a higher dose. I know the PDR info says that if you don't respond to 30 mg/day, there is no point in going higher, but that's just bull.
Posted by Regina on June 29, 2001, at 1:27:24
In reply to Re: Parnate withdrawal, posted by blackjack on June 28, 2001, at 11:16:06
> Thanks everyone! Maybe I'll stay on the 20mg until I see my new doctor. I've just been so frustrated with it not working, and feeling like crap all the time. Plus slipping into a coma every day at 4:00, loosing my sex drive, and giving up cheese... And the idea that the withdrawal is like effexor kind of makes me want to get it over with. And the headaches - whine, whine, whine! As if you folks haven't been through it all too!
But thanks for letting me know your experiences. And 2 weeks of withdrawal is much less intimidating than the 3 months I got with Prozac.
Regina
This is the end of the thread.
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