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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Linda on May 22, 1999, at 19:00:48
I am 51 years old and have been depressed almost all of
my adult life
I have taken about every drug manufactured and now
my Doctor wants me to try a MAOI for the first time and
frankly I am very afraid of the side affects. Nothing
has worked for me before for more than a few months
Does anyone have anything to say that will help me ?
Posted by Annie on May 22, 1999, at 19:52:24
In reply to MAOI, posted by Linda on May 22, 1999, at 19:00:48
Linda, I experienced fewer side effects with MAOIs than I did with either SSRIs or TCAs. Of course you must adhere closely to the diet, but it honestly isn't that bad once you get used to it. MAOIs work well for people with treatment resistant depression like you describe.
> I am 51 years old and have been depressed almost all of
> my adult life
> I have taken about every drug manufactured and now
> my Doctor wants me to try a MAOI for the first time and
> frankly I am very afraid of the side affects. Nothing
> has worked for me before for more than a few months
> Does anyone have anything to say that will help me ?
Posted by Judy on May 22, 1999, at 20:22:00
In reply to MAOI, posted by Linda on May 22, 1999, at 19:00:48
Linda,
Please read my reply above to "Suddenly suicidal..5/16" I got a bit carried away there relating my exprience taking an MAOI (Nardil) and I was embarrassed by the length of my reply; but it will give you a good idea of what a wonderful help it can be if it works for you.
There's nothing scary about the side effects. Just stay away from the relatively small list of forbidden foods and and heed the other medication warnings. Also, it was easy to get on, easy (for me at least) to get off when I wanted to stop taking it.
Give it a try if your doctor recommends it. Good Luck! (Incidentally, I just started taking Nardil again ten days ago. Last Saturday I couldn't get out of bed - and didn't want to even if I had the strength. Today I feel so much better - my energy is coming back and I want to be alive again!)
Judy
Posted by Wayne R. on May 23, 1999, at 7:19:41
In reply to MAOI, posted by Linda on May 22, 1999, at 19:00:48
Linda, your situation sound very much like mine. See my postings beginning in February to see what has been miraculous for me. Best wishes… Wayne
Posted by Sam on May 23, 1999, at 8:27:38
In reply to MAOI, posted by Linda on May 22, 1999, at 19:00:48
> I am 51 years old and have been depressed almost all of
> my adult life
> I have taken about every drug manufactured and now
> my Doctor wants me to try a MAOI for the first time and
> frankly I am very afraid of the side affects. Nothing
> has worked for me before for more than a few months
> Does anyone have anything to say that will help me ?I have had similar experience but when
doc turned to MAOI (Nardil)I had terrific results
with little of the cautioned side effects. It was my
my first experience with an antidepressant that
really worked.
Posted by Elizabeth on May 23, 1999, at 17:21:40
In reply to MAOI, posted by Linda on May 22, 1999, at 19:00:48
Here's a "me too...."
I've been taking Parnate and it really seems to work. I couldn't tolerate the tricyclics, they had too many side effects. The only side effects of Parnate that I've noticed are worsened insomnia if I take it too late in the day, suppression of dreaming (it abolishes REM sleep),
When I first started taking it, it made me a little jittery. But no GI effects, weight gain (so far) beyond my normal weight, overstimulation or oversedation, sexual problems, or any of the other standard AD side effects.Some people get orthostatic hypotension (dizziness when you stand up from sitting or lying down - esp. first thing in the morning, when you might be a little dehydrated). Something to watch out for, but not serious. Can treat with fluids, salt tablets, and if necessary a steroid called fludrocortisone.
The MAOI diet isn't bad. I use a simplified version that's based on current research; a lot of the ones you see may include foods that are actually perfectly safe, based on inaccurate information.
Posted by Queenmegenta on March 12, 2001, at 21:16:41
In reply to MAOI, posted by Linda on May 22, 1999, at 19:00:48
Hi, I am starting on an MAOI drug in two weeks and I too am very frightened about what I can and can not eat. I have done all kinds of searches on the web for the foods I can have. Everything is very specific about what I can not but is there a more in depth site with foods that are permissable.
If you can eat cottage cheese, cream cheese, what others are ok? What about milk and butter. Yeast is not permissable in vitamins how about bread? I would so much appreciate a listing of what I can eat other than the above mentioned along with fresh fruits and veggies.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
It sounds like a lot of folks have had great success with this series of drugs. I am three years and many, many drugs with only a very limited effect. Maybe I have reason to be hopeful once again!
Thanks
Queenmegenta/Jan
Posted by allisonm on March 13, 2001, at 6:45:02
In reply to Re: MAOI, posted by Queenmegenta on March 12, 2001, at 21:16:41
There is info on the MAOI diet in Dr. Bob's Psychophharmachology Tips (link at the top of this page) : http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/maoi.html
Good luck.
Posted by jb on March 13, 2001, at 9:26:16
In reply to Re: MAOI, posted by Queenmegenta on March 12, 2001, at 21:16:41
Hi, Jan. My experience is that the restricted food list is way, way overblown. I've been on Nardil for years, and I eat pizza like crazy. I also drink beer and white wine. I do stay away from the most aged of cheeses, though I do have blue cheese in limited quantities. I don't eat dates or overripe bananas. Red wine will give me a slight headache, due to its tyramine content. Also, I avoid most over the counter cold medications, and make sure whatever doc I'm seeing knows that I'm taking an MAOI. Also, I'm careful about taking any other meds - just make sure your doc and pharmacist know what else you're taking.
That's about it. Hope it helps.
John
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