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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AdamCanada2 on February 10, 2009, at 2:14:27
I'll try and make this as brief as i can.
My major symptoms are burning head pain, major treatment resistant depression, social anxiety,
Lack of Motivation/Drive/Emotion/Enjoyment/Energy
AND strong Anhedonia, Dysthmia, Melancholonia(Strong).
Last year when I tried parnate 10mg at similar dose mixed with ritalin(ritalin made it tremendously better) and Valium I had one of the best weeks in years. I went off it to see my baseline depression and also because of SEVERE Insomnia...
Then I tried it again after few weeks off. During no meds except valium I felt horrendous as symptoms above described.
Shortly after taking my first two doses of 5mg each I saw a profound difference right away. This would improve as days went by on 10mg daily total. Then it would seem to diminish a bit (no insomnia yet) so I go up to 15mg after maybe 7-10 days.... insomnia would start but not unbearable and I initially would feel better. It would diminish in it's anti-depressive effects over time and I would try 20mg.... Insomnia would become hard to bare. Around 4 hours sleep a day average. I would soon drop down to 15mg and then 10mg very quickly. So basically it was 20 down to 10 in 2 days after trying 20mg for maybe 1 week. Insomnia would remain and then day by day become much worse but also.... more loss of effectiveness of medication. I would no longer feel social.... no longer WANT to make plans with anyone, no longer want to buy anything, no longer want to engage in any hobbies, and for the exception of today where somehow I magically was able to get enough sleep to the point of sleeping in... maybe 10+ hours... it would be a cycle of this 0 hours one day, 4-5 hours the next, 0 again, 4-5 hours the next, 0, 4-5 ETC..... etc.... etc...
So.... I been unable to get Ambien from the amazing doctors who are suppossed to treat me. I will resort to the emergency ROOM if I have to unless my sleep is stabalized like it felt today because only today have I had any recent sleep relief.
So what is it with the Parnate? Do I need to stick to a higher dose and see how it goes? Someone stated perhaps just their rare case.... of how higher dose actually leads to less side effects in the long run. Is this possible? I know it was with remeron where higher dose meant less sleepiness.
BUT PLEASE ADVICE ME WHAT on earth is going on and what I should do. I see my doc on friday but i would like opinions, please try and inform me of what this medication is capable of, or any information at all.
SHould I switch to Marplan/Nardil when I see my doc?
Because Parnate in it's initial stages would make me feel better than the 20+ medications I have tried and right now... the ritalin added to Parnate seems to have a very small effect. I can feel it but almost seems like i might as well save what I have so I haven't been trying it except on rare occassion to see if the large benifit would return like the way I had that amazing week late last year.
Pls offer any adviceee because I am reaching the point of desperation and unable to live any sort of coherent life right now.
Posted by SLS on February 10, 2009, at 6:43:50
In reply to Parnate losing effectiveness? Desperate!!!!, posted by AdamCanada2 on February 10, 2009, at 2:14:27
How high of a dosage of Parnate have you been at?
40mg is really the minimum in a situation like yours. Yes, adding a stimulant like Ritalin or Dexedrine can be helpful, but will "stick" only if you have been on a therapeutic dosage of Parnate for at least 3 weeks. While those little "blips" of improvement are a good sign, they are not the real response. That doesn't happen for a few weeks. I take 80mg.
You should not let insomnia dictate your use of Parnate. In my experience, the insomnia is actually a good sign. Treat it as aggressively as you would the depression. I combined Halcion with Ativan to treat severe insomnia arising from combining Parnate + TCA.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2009, at 10:47:31
In reply to Re: Parnate losing effectiveness? Desperate!!!!, posted by SLS on February 10, 2009, at 6:43:50
Scott why is insomnia a good sign? Isn't Parnate the strongest of all the meds? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on February 10, 2009, at 11:11:36
In reply to Re: Parnate losing effectiveness? Desperate!!!! » SLS, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2009, at 10:47:31
> Scott why is insomnia a good sign? Isn't Parnate the strongest of all the meds? Phillipa
Some people don't get insomnia with Parnate. It has been my experience that insomnia indicates an imminent response. I guess that could be idiosyncratic to me only. I really don't know. It would be interesting to find out how many people this has been true for.
- Scott
Posted by JadeKelly on February 11, 2009, at 2:57:24
In reply to Re: Parnate losing effectiveness? Desperate!!!! » Phillipa, posted by SLS on February 10, 2009, at 11:11:36
> > Scott why is insomnia a good sign? Isn't Parnate the strongest of all the meds? Phillipa
>
> Some people don't get insomnia with Parnate. It has been my experience that insomnia indicates an imminent response. I guess that could be idiosyncratic to me only. I really don't know. It would be interesting to find out how many people this has been true for.
>
>
> - ScottAdam, don't quit now!!! I went thru exactly what you are going thru. I know this sounds backwards, but the higher in dose you go now, the less side effects. In fact when ritalin was added (isnt gonna do much util your higher in dose of Parnate) I was sleeping like a baby. I responded to the Parnate, I was tired so I added ritalin, had 10 days of bliss, then it went away. Now I'm up to 80mg Parnate, 40mg Ritalin and I feel great.
I have incredible energy during the day and fall into bed and sleep (except with dose increase, its 4am where I am!!! But that will only last till I hit my Ideal dose which I have the feeling will be soon.~Jade
Posted by mav27 on February 11, 2009, at 3:03:29
In reply to Re: Parnate losing effectiveness? Desperate!!!! » Phillipa, posted by SLS on February 10, 2009, at 11:11:36
> > Scott why is insomnia a good sign? Isn't Parnate the strongest of all the meds? Phillipa
>
> Some people don't get insomnia with Parnate. It has been my experience that insomnia indicates an imminent response. I guess that could be idiosyncratic to me only. I really don't know. It would be interesting to find out how many people this has been true for.
>
>
> - ScottWell interestingly parnate would put me to sleep rather than causing insomnia and i never got any positive results from it. Nardil Caused the most severe insonia and after 3 weeks kicked in like the most awesome AD ever made. It was only the hypotension both drugs gave me that caused me to cease them.
Posted by JadeKelly on February 11, 2009, at 3:25:33
In reply to Re: Parnate losing effectiveness? Desperate!!!! » SLS, posted by mav27 on February 11, 2009, at 3:03:29
Hi Mav,
I do remember a period of time where between 4-7pm I felt like I just had to take a nap. I can't remember how long that lasted. It wasnt long.
~Jade
This is the end of the thread.
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