Posted by psychobot5000 on January 26, 2007, at 22:23:21
In reply to Re: Can anyone have a 'Normal' life on Parnate?, posted by Crazy Horse on January 26, 2007, at 21:53:55
> > I'm theorizing the daytime fatigue is caused by the chronic lack of sleep.
I experienced the daytime fatigue the -first- day I was on Parnate, in other words, before I had a chance for it to damage sleep. While I assume Parnate does make people tired by damaging sleep, I believe there is an independent mechanism going on there, too. I'm a chronice insomniac, always tired, and this was something different. I find (in a limited trial) that on tranylcypromine/Parnate, at some point in the afternoon (or points?), I get a strong feeling of drowsiness, that passes off in an hour or so. It's not tiredness all day--indeed, because it's so energizing, Parnate sometimes seems to reduce the need for sleep--which is not necessarily a good thing...In any case, I do agree that possibly the best thing you can do about the problem is to make sure you are as well-rested as possible, so as to function well during the day. One thing I don't recall hearing mentioned is Xyrem. Tranylcypromine seems such a disruptive drug that it frequently overpowers sleep medications, but I think this less likely with Xyrem, which just knocks you out. ...Otherwise, all commonly used sleep medications damage sleep architecture by reducing stage 3 and 4 sleep (this includes Ambien, Ambien CR, and Lunesta). Researchers believe these are the most important for restorative sleep. One drug that I've heard claimed as avoiding this is trimipramine (a tricyclic similar to doxepin). ...In any case, Xyrem contrasts with other sleep aids by actually increasing deep sleep (3 and 4). It's disadvantages are that it is usually used only for narcolepsy, (regular or MAOi-induced insomnia is thus off-label), and that it is highly controlled.
However, the MAOi expert (and Harvard researcher) Dr. J A Bodkin recommends Xyrem for MAOi-induced insomnia.
poster:psychobot5000
thread:726465
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070125/msgs/726929.html