Posted by proudfoot on August 28, 2010, at 16:06:17
In reply to Re: People still getting help/using Emsam?, posted by bearfan on August 28, 2010, at 15:34:45
> How long have you been on the Nardil? I've heard it works on a broad number of conditions, but that there could be side effects long term.
I've only been on the Nardil for a week, and have luckily avoided some of the more commonly listed side effects like dizziness from low blood pressure, and insomnia OR excessive sleepiness.
I have more energy during the day than before, and am sleeping more soundly at night than I've been in a long time. I don't take any sleeping pills or other meds for anxiety right now. Had been taking dexedrine for ADD as well, but with how I'm feeling right now, don't think we'll need to add that back on either. My motivation is the best it's felt in a long time. I'm wishing we'd tried this a long time ago, but hindsight is always 20/20.
Am doing a lot more reading about the Nardil and MAOIs in general, and I've learned that over time the Nardil will reduce the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine such that the low blood pressure could become a problem (see the second paragraph of section 2.1 at the following link: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Phenelzine ). I'm going to bring that issue up when I see my shrink again in a couple weeks as we might need to resume the dexedrine or cymbalta that was stopped to start the Nardil.
So far as long-term side effects go, guess I figure that's par for the course with any of these drugs (even the newer SSRIs - see the posts on this site about post-SSRI syndromes), and that life is really a constant balancing of risks versus benefits in all the choices we make. If the Nardil makes me start to gain too much weight, for example, I'm gonna have to use the newfound motivation and energy to force myself to exercise more and try to reduce the amount of food I'm eating.
The scientific articles I've reviewed show that the MAOIs and the older TCAs seem to offer the most benefitis for the long haul in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression when dosed at an appropriate dose. Too many docs under-dose a patient and then deem it a treatment failure when in fact they never took the drug to a high enough dose in the first place.
Anyhow, I know that no drug is THE wonder drug for everyone, but if other treatments have not been successful when used appropriately for you, it's time for your psychiatrist to revisit the question of the older agents which have proven track records with the right patient.
Let me know what happens. I've got my fingers crossed that the Nardil doesn't start to cause too many bad side effects as time goes on, but I'm realistic that something will likely give at some point. Til then, though, one day at a time.
Doug
poster:proudfoot
thread:960193
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100821/msgs/960340.html