Posted by malcolm664 on June 10, 2007, at 13:47:04
Hi: I've been on Parnate (I'm up to 60 mgs daily) for the last six weeks and it seems to have reduced my depression and anxiety considerably.
My question concerns Nardil, which I was on a year ago, had a fantastic reaction to it (a certain kind of manic euphoria would be the only way to describe it). For the first time EVER, I felt that the tremendous social anxiety and perpetual clumsiness seemed to have been conquered forever.
Well, nothing is forever, as I soon found out. The hypomania turned out to be very short-lived and within about 3-4 weeks, I was back to square one.
But those weeks will be forever etched in my memory as the happiest I've ever been.
However, as I said I've been on 60 mgs of Parnate last 3 weeks and while my anxiety has lessened considerably, it's not producing anywhere near the boost of self-confidence as I felt while the Nardil was at its peak reaction. {I also suffer from a recently diagnosed condition called NVLD, or a "nonverbal learning disorder", which as I'm finding out you can try an compensate for, but there's no real treatement, med-wise; none of the traditional ADD meds seem to improve the symptoms; and I've been on everything Ritalin, Concerta, Desoxyn, etc and none have helped even the slightest; the only med I haven't yet tried is Provigil).
Getting back to the Parnate, I wouldn't want another short-lived boost of self-confidence, so perhaps it's better that the Parnate is producing a more normal sustained positive reaction in me, definitely no hypomania, but it has definitely reduced my anxiety considerably).
My question is: what would account for the difference between Nardil and Parnate? They're both MAOIS's, so you would think that they would elicit a similar reaction. Or is the Nardil induced hypomania a one-time reaction, that's never likely to be repeated (For example, if I were to go on Nardil now - a year later - would I be able to recapture that incredible high?)
Of course, it's purely an academic question, b/c there's virtually NO chance of my pdoc prescribing Nardil for a temporary high vs. the more sustained reaction that I'm currently experiencing with Parnate. But of course, it's only been 3 weeks since the Parnate kicked in, so in the back of my mind there is considerable worry that's its effects will also be short-lived.
But I am really curious how MAOI's work. Somewhere there must be a really good thorough explanation - I just haven't found it. And
Anyone have any ideas?
thanks-
Malcolm
poster:malcolm664
thread:762185
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070604/msgs/762185.html