Posted by stargazer2 on May 28, 2008, at 21:10:30
In reply to Re: Advice needed: Fastest way to wean off Nardil? » stargazer2, posted by Girlnterrupted78 on May 27, 2008, at 21:51:08
Hi again GI, I wasn't sure if you remembered me but we talked a few times perhaps a year or so ago. I have been off PB more than on, I sometimes just read for old times sake.
I'm on so many meds right now (Synthroid, an antibiotic, meds for pain, Vitamins) but Nardil at 60 is the mainstay for my depression. Occasionally I add a small amount of Seroquel for anxiety, but the Nortriptylline and other meds I added didn't do much. It's such a fine line sometimes with knowing what is working or just holding you steady.
I too gained weight slowly and wasn't even aware of the weight gain until around October and I had statred Nardil around April or May. I'm not using my notes just trying to remember things off the top of my head which is very difficult when it comes to what meds I was on, what dosage and for how long. I consulted a high level researcher at Yale who wasn't all that helpful since at the time, Nardil was starting to do something.
I did see a very progressive endocrinologist and I was started on Synthroid, which may have boosted my thyroid and thusly my mood. He called me borderline hypothyroid and felt that a lower TSH was something that should be evaluated in depressives, especially someone like me who over time never had good results with meds. I'm sorry I didn't push for this sooner. That may have made a difference in my response. Have you seen an endo yourself? It may be beneficial since even a "normal" level of TSH can be beneficial when it's reduced to 1 or 2.
The weight gain is troubling of course since all my size 12 pants are too tight so I had to buy a larger size, ughhh...but I have to bear with it since I am functional now. I'm not feeling happy but mostly balanced I guess I would term it.
I would love to try another med, but what one(s), every med I've tried was useless or harmful, and I was losing out on life big time. At my age, a year is a major loss of life and I couldn't risk being housebound and purposeless for any longer. I wanted to work again since I had no self esteem left from doing nothing. So despite the negative side effects, I do have most of my life back, at least enough to get out and work and make some money which seriously helps ones life as long as the job doesn't cause you to crash and burn. I do fear that I will wake up one day and not be able to function again. It's only been 3 months since I started to work. When I feel good I am a highly functional person and it surprises me how far I fall when depression takes over. I become a crying, hateful sack of negativity and doubt I'll ever be helped again. This last time I thought I would have to give up.
Keep in touch and write me through babble any time. I hope you find a drug that can help you too. Is there a particular med you you think you should try next????
SG
poster:stargazer2
thread:831478
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080528/msgs/831780.html