![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnM on February 23, 2001, at 17:06:47
I used to get good results from Nardil when I started it 12 years ago. I tried a drug "holiday"
many years later to see if I could cope without the it. Needless to say, the holiday wasn't
successful. Then, when I went back on the Nardil, it couldn't snap me back out of my funk! I
tried all kinds of SSRI's without any luck over a three year period.I went to my old pdoc that originally prescribed the Nardil and he suggested I take four tablets of
Nardil instead of my historical three. I did that and got some (but not great) results. The Nardil
just never really worked well after that either and I began to get motivated to decrease it so that I
could try something else. I've worked myself down to two tablets but am tempted to turn the
other direction and blast myself with the highest recommended dosage of Nardil (Six tablets -
90mg) to see if it can help.I just feel awful these days and I have to exercise, meditate, eat right, get a full 8 hours of sleep,
etc. every day just to obtain bare-bones functionality in the work world. I look around at other
"normal" people and envy their ability to just "function" without jumping through a bunch of
hoops like I do!! I might just go with the "blast" approach and maybe augmentation if necessary
rather that come off Nardil and try a bunch of shots the dark with other medications. Sorry about
my ranting. I just gotta talk this out! John
Posted by ShelliR on February 23, 2001, at 17:59:16
In reply to Nardil experiences; any advice/ insights??, posted by JohnM on February 23, 2001, at 17:06:47
>John,
You might try parnate-another MAOI. But my first suggestion would be to add lamictal (first used for epilepsy, now a recognized mood stabilizer). It is working pretty well for me, along with alternating 30mg and 45mg of nardil. I am taking 400 mg of lamictal, but some people do really well on half that amount. The only thing is you have to build up very very slowly, so it won't provide immediate relief. Ask your pdoc about it; most pdocs are pretty high on it these days. shelli
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 24, 2001, at 5:38:43
In reply to Re: Nardil experiences; any advice/ insights?? » JohnM, posted by ShelliR on February 23, 2001, at 17:59:16
I recommend Lamictal, too.
Posted by JohnM on February 24, 2001, at 7:29:33
In reply to Re: Nardil experiences; any advice/ insights?? » JohnM, posted by ShelliR on February 23, 2001, at 17:59:16
Shellie, I think I talked to you about Nardil before. Some other questions: (1) What does the alternating 30 to 45 do for you? and (2) Does the Lamacital work as an augmentor (making the Nardil work the way it used to work) or does it have a separate effect (like adding a benzo or something).
Also, (3) can you relate to an effect I had on Nardil when I went back on it (after the time I took a drug holiday) where the medication had unusual effects (this is going to sound strange, but it is the only way I can describe it) my face got a kind of "droopy" appearance, I took on kind of a stupified facial expression (although my mental state was not really exhausted, my expression made me feel like I should be!)-- weird!, and my mood was kind of in a "limbo" state--not a depressed mood, but not doing that good either! I don't call this a recovery!! Ha ha! This is what motivated me to start decreasing the Nardil (after the drug holiday reduction) which paradoxically brought some relief to the "stupor effect." Do you have any knowledge/experience of this effect?
This is not how Nardil worked for me originally. It originally worked great! Lots of energy and confidence! I'd love to get that effect again.
Maybe the Lamacital can turn this around, or maybe trying the 90mg approach to shock the system (which is a theory of treating depression).
I've tried Parnate before without success. Thank you Shellie for all your valuable insights past and present!! John
Posted by ShelliR on February 25, 2001, at 0:26:00
In reply to Shellie, more Nardil questions!, posted by JohnM on February 24, 2001, at 7:29:33
Hi John.
< (1) What does the alternating 30 to 45 do for you?
Taking 45mg all the time makes me more tired and have strange nighttime sleep patterns, i.e., waking up every three hours. Also, after about six months on 45mg, I got so light sensitive, then when I got out of my car into sunlight, I literally couldn't see where I was--I call it whiting out. So alternating is sort of a compromise on the dose. If they were easier to split, I could take 37 1/2 mg every day and have the same effect.
(2) Does the Lamacital work as an augmentor (making the Nardil work the way it used to work) or does it have a separate effect (like adding a benzo or something).
It helps with the nardil for me. It doesn't have any separate effects or even side effects except that I gained about 15 pounds; first 10 at 200mg; then another 5 at 400mg. Not everyone gains weight however.
(3) can you relate to an effect I had on Nardil when I went back on it (after the time I took a drug holiday) where the medication had unusual effects (this is going to sound strange, but it is the only way I can describe it) my face got a kind of "droopy" appearance, I took on kind of a stupified facial expression (although my mental state was not really exhausted, my expression made me feel like I should be!)-- weird!, and my mood was kind of in a "limbo" state--not a depressed mood, but not doing that good either! I don't call this a recovery!! Ha ha! This is what motivated me to start decreasing the Nardil (after the drug holiday reduction) which paradoxically brought some relief to the "stupor effect." Do you have any knowledge/experience of this effect?
No, sorry. If Nardil doesn't have many side effects, you might try first pumping it way up. That seems to help some people; but I never tried because of the side effects. Pumping it up would be a lot faster route if it worked.
Good luck, Shelli
Posted by JohnM on February 25, 2001, at 11:33:38
In reply to Re: Shellie, more Nardil questions! » JohnM, posted by ShelliR on February 25, 2001, at 0:26:00
Thanx much Shelli. I think I might try the Lamictal with my present dose of 30mg Nardil to see what happens for now, rather than raising the Nardil (if my pdoc will go along). I've read some tolerance stories with regards to Nardil where increasing mao inhibition failed to get relative anti-depressant response. Kind of in line with the theory that depression treatment is more than just raising neurotransmitter levels.
One thing I've learned from this whole experience is to be quite happy and grateful functioning "OK" (say an 8 or even a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10). I'm around a 5 now.
As a friendly aside, You might look into rational-emotive therapy as a powerful psychotherapy approach. It really helped me. I'm not saying you should look up a therapist, but just check out some books or check out the web site rebt.org .
I'll let you know how the Lamictal works. Thanks again. John
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.