Posted by paulk on June 15, 2001, at 18:53:43
In reply to more about Xanax and depression, posted by Elizabeth on June 12, 2001, at 16:37:42
I hadn’t heard that there was a XR version anywhere. Who is making it?
I talked to a University Psydoc about this very issue - he said because the patent was out, no one would pay for the studies - etc. etc. (and several other cures are gone wanting for the same reason)
I’m taking a very low dose (.25mg/day) of Clonazepam, which is also suspected of having some antidepressant effect (some study mentioned some seritonin activity), but in my mind Xanax (Alprazolam) was even better that way. Unfortunately, it was quite a bear to manage frequent dosing at a low level, so I stopped it many years ago. Xanax quits so fast and nasty that I can see why it would be addictive. Sure wish there was an XR version to try.
I’m now also taking Nardil. Figured out why it is started the way it is – (starts off at 15mg – ramps quite rapidly and then back to 15 – 30mg/day) – the drug only has a 1-2 hour half-life – so it seems strange – until you figure that the enzyme it is deactivating has a much longer half-life of being replaced (no mention of this in the PDR BTW). You need to have about 90% of MO enzyme deactivated before it can start to work – and then it might take a few weeks. It seems like it may have started working just in the last day or so – not bad so far.
Do you know if the low BP side effect is a ‘primary’ effect of the drug or a result of the lowering of the MO enzyme level?
I understand why one shouldn’t take SSRIs and the like but I don’t understand why there would be a need to discontinue other MOAIs when switching between types? After all, the Nardil would wash out in a day or so? Are they acting on different enzymes?
I’m also wondering if I should get a med-alert bracelet - I understand that Demerol (meperidine) can be fatal – I would hate to be in a car accident and get Demerol in the ER that could kill me.
poster:paulk
thread:65795
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010612/msgs/66609.html