Posted by jd on January 16, 2000, at 18:42:33
In reply to Dysthymia, posted by Janet on January 16, 2000, at 16:10:47
Hello Janet,
The kind of history and symptoms you mention suggest that MAOI medications may indeed be worth trying. As you might know, MAOIs are often very successful with people who have had lifelong mood, energy, and/or eating problems that don't respond well to other medications. What is more, the family symptoms you mention (depression with panic attacks, bulimia, etc.) are part of a symptom "cluster" that generally responds well to MAOIs.
You should perhaps discuss all this with a well-informed psychopharmacologist... You'll note that there's a lot on this site about the various MAOI medications and their trade-offs (especially the initally scary dietary restrictions, which are apparently not as bad as has often been suggested). In general, Parnate has a reputation for being the most "activating" and the least likely to cause weight gain. Nardil probably has the best reputation for anxiety, panic attacks, and bulimia, but can cause significant weight gain in some people. (Marplan has a reputation for being somewhere "between" Nardil and Parnate.) Finally, there's also selegiline (Deprenyl), a related MAO drug which usually doesn't require eating restrictions when treating depression, but this may be effective in a smaller range of patients. Selegiline may be worth trying if you haven't tried an antidepressant that works on the neurotransmitter called dopamine (such as Wellbutrin)--the chronic tiredness suggests that this may at least be a piece of the puzzle, though some of the other symptoms you mention suggest that a full MAOI like Parnate or Nardil might be the better choice. In any event, I certainly wouldn't feel like you've "tried everything" until you've tried at least two MAOIs: they are many people's "last resort" and often have very encouraging results. (So much so that I'm even considering trying one myself for much the same reasons!)
Good luck to you,
jd
> My mother had dysthymia. She had 7 children, 6 of whom suffer from some kind of mental disorder e.g panic attacks, bullimia, depression. I've had SAD bulimia and I suffer from dysthymia. I've tried all the medications except MAOI and none have worked. My main symptom is tierdness. I have no energy: people think that I'm lazy.I have two daughters and I worry that they will inherit the same disorder.When they were born I felt strangely detached and Iwas never abie to talk to them like other Mums. For years I had been trying to find out why I was so tierd. I have been to so many doctors and had so many diagnoses.When I found out I had dysthymia and that it could be cured I was so happy but after 18 mos. of treament with no results I feel down because I feel I'm condemned to lead this useless life forever. Nothing has gone well for me,jobs, marriage and now I feel that I'm doing a bad job of raising my daughters. Has anyone out there actually been cured of dysthymia? Jan
poster:jd
thread:19054
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000112/msgs/19059.html