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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by avenarius on July 28, 2011, at 18:14:24
I've read a lot of posts here and on other sites but I still don't have a grasp of how people feel when MAOIs work for them.
I recently started 20mg selegiline (oral) for atypical depression with anxiety. After 10 days I haven't noticed anything, good or bad. I've read a lot about side effects - low BP, high BP, insomnia, fatigue - but not much about the positive side.
What does it feel like when MAOIs work? (and how long have they been working for you?)
Posted by emmanuel98 on July 28, 2011, at 21:34:16
In reply to MAOI success stories?, posted by avenarius on July 28, 2011, at 18:14:24
Selegiline is a MAO-B selective inhibitor. It did nothing for me. I spent two weeks in a hospital getting off selegiline, started on parnate and got out of bed after 48 hours for the first time in months. The hospital had a stationary bike, and I actually got on it and started exercising.
Parnate hasn't been perfect. I've still had depression and bad depression, but not the catatonic, vegetative depression that put me in the hospital. Not once in two years. I think the depression I've suffered since is more psychological (I had a severe trauma background) and less physiological.
Posted by avenarius on July 28, 2011, at 21:48:58
In reply to Re: MAOI success stories?, posted by emmanuel98 on July 28, 2011, at 21:34:16
I might try parnate or nardil if selegiline fails.
Selegiline is MAO-B selective at doses below 15mg per day. Above that it inhibits both A and B.
Posted by jedi on July 30, 2011, at 1:22:52
In reply to MAOI success stories?, posted by avenarius on July 28, 2011, at 18:14:24
> I've read a lot of posts here and on other sites but I still don't have a grasp of how people feel when MAOIs work for them.
>
> I recently started 20mg selegiline (oral) for atypical depression with anxiety. After 10 days I haven't noticed anything, good or bad. I've read a lot about side effects - low BP, high BP, insomnia, fatigue - but not much about the positive side.
>
> What does it feel like when MAOIs work? (and how long have they been working for you?)I've never taken selegiline, but I have had two trials with Parnate and have been on Nardil for over a decade. 10 days is not enough time for a MAOI to perform it's magic. I also have not read much about selegiline (oral or transdermal) working very well for severe depression. If you're going to be inhibiting MAO-A anyway, I would suggest Parnate or Nardil.
Good Luck,
Jedi
Posted by avenarius on July 30, 2011, at 10:23:23
In reply to Re: MAOI success stories? » avenarius, posted by jedi on July 30, 2011, at 1:22:52
I'm going with selegiline because that was the first choice of a renowned psychopharmacologist that I saw for a one time consultation. I don't expect it to kick in for at least 6 weeks but I am interested to know what MAOIs (any, not just selegiline) feel like when they work. Similar to other antidepressants? different? Anyone care to describe their experience?
Posted by desolationrower on July 30, 2011, at 22:10:24
In reply to Re: MAOI success stories? » avenarius, posted by jedi on July 30, 2011, at 1:22:52
> I've never taken selegiline, but I have had two trials with Parnate and have been on Nardil for over a decade. 10 days is not enough time for a MAOI to perform it's magic. I also have not read much about selegiline (oral or transdermal) working very well for severe depression. If you're going to be inhibiting MAO-A anyway, I would suggest Parnate or Nardil.
> Good Luck,
> JediParnate worked in less than 10 days for me (although, i went straight to 40mg /wo titrating). the only improvement past that the next month was the side effects dropped away.
I tried selegiline, at higher doses that inhibit both enzymes (theoretically) it it wasn't effective.
> > What does it feel like when MAOIs work? (and how long have they been working for you?)
>basically, all the negative thoughts stopped. I also had significant increase in positive affect. as soon as my eyes opened in the morning, i was excited about the day. i enjoyed the drive to work, food was good, and i could feel things other than sadness from music.
I stopped (to start adhd treatment) and haven't felt depressed since.
-d/r
ps - the experience is perfectly summed up by the lyrics to 'zoo station' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-QKwXbTEXc&feature=related
Posted by jedi on July 31, 2011, at 3:31:53
In reply to Re: MAOI success stories?, posted by avenarius on July 30, 2011, at 10:23:23
> I'm going with selegiline because that was the first choice of a renowned psychopharmacologist that I saw for a one time consultation. I don't expect it to kick in for at least 6 weeks but I am interested to know what MAOIs (any, not just selegiline) feel like when they work. Similar to other antidepressants? different? Anyone care to describe their experience?
When Nardil first kicked in for me back in 1998, it was like flipping a switch. One day I was hopeless and miserable, the next day all of the answers were clear. I have never felt anything like it, before or since.
Good Luck and Be Well,
JediPS
I also saw a renowned psychopharmacologist once. He took me off Nardil and bupropion(contraindicated) Put me on Prozac, he had a part in the original studies. Said, if that didn't work, to come back for ECT. This guy was even mentioned on this site as one of the top PDOCs in the US. Didn't know his *ss from a hole in the ground. Sure not saying yours was like this, but this guy did me no favors. There are all kinds out there.
Posted by emmanuel98 on July 31, 2011, at 19:52:53
In reply to Re: MAOI success stories? » avenarius, posted by jedi on July 31, 2011, at 3:31:53
I had not gotten out of bed for almost two months and, after starting parnate, felt normal within 48 hours. I got up at the hospital I was at and started exercising on a stationary bike they had there. I've been on parnate for two years and have gotten severely depressed and suicidal twice since. But both times, there were precipipants and I have not gotten back into that semi-comatose state since I started.
This is the end of the thread.
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