Posted by Racer on April 18, 2008, at 1:52:54
In reply to Husbands Suggestion of Thread On Nardil for me, posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2008, at 12:55:07
> Had a discussion with husband and our experiences with talking of pdocs about nardil for me. And all the pdocs and therapists here that we have seen ... have looked at us like what century are you in we don't use MAOI's where did you ever hear of using one? So of course we had to bring up the internet at which point they pointed out that there is a lot of faulty info on the internet.
I have to admit I'm not sure what you're trying to get at with this post, but I'd like to point something out:
There is a lot of faulty information on the internet. There's even a lot of -- let's call it incomplete information on this site. And anecdotal evidence is helpful --and it is incomplete.
In defense of doctors who do not consider MAOIs to be appropriate first line medications, or even a second line medication: despite what many people here have experienced -- remember, this group is not necessarily typical -- most studies show MAOIs are not as well tolerated at other antidepressants. They have been shown to be more effective for atypical depression -- a form of depression which was named because it tends to respond well to MAOIs! (Just a tiny bit recursive, maybe?) For many people, they are not well tolerated. Many people who try MAOIs do not succeed with them, not because they're not effective drugs, but because they are not tolerable drugs -- they can only work if you can continue taking them.
I guess what I'm trying -- quite clumbsily -- to express is actually pretty simple: mileage varies. Because Nardil is great for some people, does not mean it will be great for all people. MAOIs are not for everyone who can benefit from antidepressant medication.
And in your case, based on what you've posted about your dosages, history with medications, etc, I think Nardil might prove quite disruptive for you. There is a good and compelling reason to try the newer medications first -- the SSRIs and various novel agents. It's not that they're more effective -- they're ALL pretty consistently effective. The only difference is that newer medications are often easier on the patient, are more tolerable for many patients.
MAOIs are a valuable option for many patients and I'm glad they're available. They are not the answer for everyone. There are some pretty compelling reasons to try other medications first. At least until you've managed six to eight weeks at a therapeutic dose of a newer medication.
Good luck.
poster:Racer
thread:823803
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080412/msgs/823950.html