![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by craig getty on October 31, 2003, at 18:59:35
Anyone out there have any success with Parnate? Tell me about it - what symptoms did you take it for; dosage; how long to feel benefit; side effects.
How did compare to other meds you had taken in the past (including Nardil)?
Also, has anyone switched from one MAOI to another with less than a week cleansing period? I'm planning to switch from Nardil to Parnate with only 5 days in-between.
CG
Posted by ace on October 31, 2003, at 21:55:46
In reply to Parnate Success Stories?, posted by craig getty on October 31, 2003, at 18:59:35
> Also, has anyone switched from one MAOI to another with less than a week cleansing period? I'm planning to switch from Nardil to Parnate with only 5 days in-between.
>
> CG
>Once I switched from 90mg nardil to Parnate the next day- and then the next day back to 90mg Nardil!
Also I switched after 2 weeks 4 days on Parnate to nardil after 50 hour washout. But, I was very ill during this time.
Can you give it those extra couple of days just to be safe? You probably will be OK anyway, but it's better to be safe than sorry of course.
Good luck,
Ace.
Posted by cubbybear on November 1, 2003, at 8:32:03
In reply to Parnate Success Stories?, posted by craig getty on October 31, 2003, at 18:59:35
> Anyone out there have any success with Parnate? Tell me about it - what symptoms did you take it for; dosage; how long to feel benefit; side effects.
>
> How did compare to other meds you had taken in the past (including Nardil)?
>
> I sure have had 20+ yrs. of success on Parnate. Can you hang in there just 1 or 2 more days? I'll give you the scoop but I have to bail out of this (public computer) place now since they're shutting it down.
Will talk to you soon. If you don't get my post by Tues. then please repost a note for me under "Cubbybear"!
Posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 1:26:22
In reply to Parnate Success Stories?, posted by craig getty on October 31, 2003, at 18:59:35
> Anyone out there have any success with Parnate? Tell me about it - what symptoms did you take it for; dosage; how long to feel benefit; side effects.
>
> How did compare to other meds you had taken in the past (including Nardil)?OK-I'm back! here's the scoop on my Parnate success. Started with it in '84 and used it consistently up until 2002 with just a few attempts to go AD-free, which always ended in another depressive episode and having to go back on the Parnate. When I re-start it, I've increased this way: 20 mg. for 2 days, 30 mg. for 3 days, then a kick off dose of 40 mg. In my case, it usually takes about 3 weeks to kick in but on one occasion, it kicked in after about 18 days; on another occasion, about 27 days. After about a month or two of feeling asymptomatic, I'll drop the dose to 30 mg. and stay there indefinitely.
This wonder drug knocks out all the symptoms of my depression including: anhedonia, loss of interest in sex, decreased appetite and weight loss, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, fear (which is manifest in bad anxiety and heart palpitations), early waking and sleep deficit, vague suicidal thoughts. I get to feel like a human being again.
My side effects have been: low pressure and light headedness for the first week or two, increased craving for sweets and carbohydrates, which restores my weight (this is unusual since most Parnate users report weight loss), dry mouth at the beginning, and reduced need for sleep or *tolerable* insomnia that does not go away.
I adhere closely to the diet restrictions; and even though they've been liberalized, I'm still afraid of having any pizza --i just can't shake my fear of a hypertensive crisis because of all the years I was adhering to the old guidelines.
That's just a personal decision.
As far as other meds go, I made the stupid decision to try some of the newer ADs last year and will never forget the black hole I fell into as a result:
Remeron--it seemed to work for a while, but pooped outZoloft--it messed up my sex circuitry which normally runs at about 2000 volts and it didn't do anything to quash my anxiety.
Aurorix (moclobemide) (not available in U.S.)--had no benefit whatever and it probably made my depression worse. This stuff was like poison for me.
Will never try anything else again and they'd better keep on making the Parnate!So I wound up going back to the U.S. to get my usual year's supply of Parnate, and within 3 weeks, the debilitating depression was gone. That's my success story. I only wish that everyone who takes Parnate could be this lucky.
>
>
Posted by craig getty on November 2, 2003, at 4:00:48
In reply to Re: Parnate Success Stories? » craig getty, posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 1:26:22
Parnate People,
Thanks for sharing. Except for a couple of severe episodes, my depression is usually mild to moderate with low energy, poor concentration, and some social anxiety. I've tried virtually all of the new meds - zoloft; prozac; zoloft + prozac; wellbutrin; wellbutrin + ritalin; wellbutrin + effexor; wellbutrin + effexor + ritalin; wellbutrin + prozac; wellbutrin + provigil; and i've tried elavil; and i've tried nardil; nardil + provigil. It's shocking to me now to realize I've been on meds for the last ten years. I still don't think I've gotten over the stigma.
Nardil has made me feel the best so far, but I'm up to 90mg and it's stopped working plus the side effects have now become way too annoying. So, I'll give it a 5 day washout, and give Parnate a try. I'll let you know how it goes.
CG
Posted by BK on November 2, 2003, at 6:41:28
In reply to Re: Parnate Success Stories? » craig getty, posted by craig getty on November 2, 2003, at 4:00:48
Craig,
Your medication experiences seem to parallel that of my own. The only drug that ever worked for me was Nardil, albeit only for a 4 month period. During this period, I was virtually cured of all my SP feelings and depression. It was the most spectacular time of my life and it made me realize how much I had really been suffering. Rather cruelly, the drug pooped-out and i was never able to get it to kick in again. i tried Parnate for a short time and it made me very anxious. Perhaps i should've stayed on it longer? Good luck and let me hear how you're doing on parnate.
Posted by BK on November 2, 2003, at 6:48:15
In reply to Re: Parnate Success Stories? » craig getty, posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 1:26:22
Cubby,
Have you had any experience with Nardil? I'm curious why someone would use Parnate over Nardil. As i explained in the post below, I tried Nardil many years ago and it was virtually a miracle drug for me initially. Unfortunately it pooped-out after 4 months and i could never get it to jump start, despite multiple attempts. I tried Parnate for a short time and it made me very anxious. I was wondering if Parnate would be a viable alternative for someone who experienced Nardil poop-out. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by cybercafe on November 2, 2003, at 7:47:05
In reply to Re: Parnate Success Stories? » craig getty, posted by BK on November 2, 2003, at 6:48:15
> Cubby,
>
> Have you had any experience with Nardil? I'm curious why someone would use Parnate over Nardil.i don't know if nardil has stimulating properties
but my prob is i tend to sleep way too much..... so my biggest priority is to re-capture those lost hours of the day, and then worry about things like anxiety (which i just treat with benzos anyways)
if i couldn't get my hands on any benzos, i would be running to nardil pretty fast i'm sure
As i explained in the post below, I tried Nardil many years ago and it was virtually a miracle drug for me initially. Unfortunately it pooped-out after 4 months and i could never get it to jump start, despite multiple attempts. I tried Parnate for a short time and it made me very anxious. I was wondering if Parnate would be a viable alternative for someone who experienced Nardil poop-out. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 23:09:59
In reply to Re: Parnate Success Stories?, posted by cybercafe on November 2, 2003, at 7:47:05
> > Cubby,
> >
> > Have you had any experience with Nardil? I'm curious why someone would use Parnate over Nardil.
>
I've had no experience with Nardil. Way back in '84, Parnate was the drug my doctor chose. I guess that he preferred it over Nardil or decided that my particular depression would respond better to Parnate.
Posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 23:14:23
In reply to Re: Parnate Success Stories? » craig getty, posted by BK on November 2, 2003, at 6:48:15
> Cubby,
>
> Have you had any experience with Nardil? I'm curious why someone would use Parnate over Nardil. As i explained in the post below, I tried Nardil many years ago and it was virtually a miracle drug for me initially. Unfortunately it pooped-out after 4 months and i could never get it to jump start, despite multiple attempts. I tried Parnate for a short time and it made me very anxious. I was wondering if Parnate would be a viable alternative for someone who experienced Nardil poop-out. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.Sorry, I got confused and replied under a different post about why I've taken Parnate over Nardil. As for the issue of poopout, since I have no experience with Nardil, I can't give a good reply other than, --if the Nardil poops out, switching to Parnate is definitely worth a try. You have nothing to lose. The side effects, though, would be different.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.