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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 12, 2011, at 19:18:44
After a long stretch on Parnate during which I never got to a point beyond being "not terribly depressed" I am dosing down
I was hoping it would work bc last time I took parnate it relieved all my joint pain. Not this time around. My doctor has started me on Lithium to help me through the washout.
Nortriptyline combined with the Lithium is one of his suggestions for what's next.
Any Nortriptyline success stories out there?
Posted by SLS on January 12, 2011, at 19:30:31
In reply to Parnate/Lithium/Nortriptyline, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 12, 2011, at 19:18:44
You might consider remaining on the Parnate and add both lithium and nortriptyline to it. A really smart doctor would know that these drugs can be combined together. It might possibly save a lot of time.
- Scott
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 12, 2011, at 19:53:15
In reply to Re: Parnate/Lithium/Nortriptyline » Elanor Roosevelt, posted by SLS on January 12, 2011, at 19:30:31
Thanks for that info Scott. I do not want to stay on parnate but it would be nice not to have to wash out before starting the Nortriptyline. I will discuss with my doctor next week.
Posted by SLS on January 12, 2011, at 20:27:37
In reply to Thanks Scott, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 12, 2011, at 19:53:15
> Thanks for that info Scott. I do not want to stay on parnate but it would be nice not to have to wash out before starting the Nortriptyline. I will discuss with my doctor next week.
If your doctor is comfortable with co-administering Parnate and nortriptyline, I would take advantage of the opportunity to try full therapeutic dosages of both drugs together. If you improve on the combination, then you can attempt to discontinue the Parnate as an experiment. If you tolerate lithium, I would consider adding low dosages (300-600mg) as an antidepressant augmenter. Some people have described responding to lithium at dosages as low as 150mg. However, if lithium is used as an anti-manic / mood stabilizer, higher dosages are indicated (900-1500mg). Of course, lithium at such dosages needs to be titrated using blood tests so as not to produce toxicity.
What is your reason for wanting to discontinue Parnate? It would be a shame to drop it and jump from drug to drug with the idea that you will find a single drug to be effective as monotherapy. Then, later, you would have to return to Parnate and nortriptyline once "less aggressive" treatments are exhausted.
- Scott
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 13, 2011, at 21:49:19
In reply to Re: Thanks Scott » Elanor Roosevelt, posted by SLS on January 12, 2011, at 20:27:37
Scott, The Parnate made me at best, flat. It only eased the worst of the depression. It just didn't work well and I found myself despairing over whether this is as good as I will ever feel. I had scary hypertension episodes and frequent digestive problems. Really nothing to build on there.
Posted by SLS on January 14, 2011, at 0:12:04
In reply to Re: Thanks Scott, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 13, 2011, at 21:49:19
> Scott, The Parnate made me at best, flat. It only eased the worst of the depression. It just didn't work well and I found myself despairing over whether this is as good as I will ever feel. I had scary hypertension episodes and frequent digestive problems. Really nothing to build on there.
Parnate left me a bit flat also. Nardil is more of a mood brightener for me.
I hope you hit the target soon.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by emilyp on January 14, 2011, at 17:52:13
In reply to Re: Thanks Scott » Elanor Roosevelt, posted by SLS on January 12, 2011, at 20:27:37
Having said that, SLS is right in that the nortriptyline can definitely be taken with parnate. In fact, my doctor really encourages it so there is less of a wash out period. You might want to ask your doctor
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 18, 2011, at 21:24:54
In reply to Parnate/Lithium/Nortriptyline, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 12, 2011, at 19:18:44
I had a talk with my pdoc today and he is not agreeable to introducing Nortriptyline to my present dose of Parnate. He is upping my Lithium to 600mg and easing off the parnate.
This is in hopes that the Lithium helps me through the wash out.
Next might be Lithium, Wellbutrin and a SSRI
Posted by SLS on January 18, 2011, at 23:23:03
In reply to Re: Parnate/Lithium/Nortriptyline, posted by Elanor Roosevelt on January 18, 2011, at 21:24:54
> I had a talk with my pdoc today and he is not agreeable to introducing Nortriptyline to my present dose of Parnate. He is upping my Lithium to 600mg and easing off the parnate.
> This is in hopes that the Lithium helps me through the wash out.
> Next might be Lithium, Wellbutrin and a SSRIThat is a reasonable strategy.
Good luck, ER.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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