Posted by Jonathan on February 27, 2003, at 16:23:28
In reply to Parnate for Severe Depression--Need Dosage Info, posted by cubbybear on February 27, 2003, at 10:54:13
The British National Formulary (BNF) is the UK equivalent of your PDR. You can access it online at http://bnf.vhn.net/ ; you have to register and choose a username and password, but it's free, and the same login gives you access to the more detailed Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC) at http://emc.vhn.net/ . Unfortunately, the latter doesn't include Parnate, the BNF entry for which is at:
http://www.bnf.vhn.net/bnf/documents/bnf.863.html#BNFID_3346
"Dose: initially 10 mg twice daily not later than 3 p.m., increasing the second daily dose to 20 mg after 1 week if necessary; doses above 30 mg daily under close supervision only; usual maintenance dose 10 mg daily; CHILD not recommended."
This is from the US online source http://www.rxlist.com/ :
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/tranylcypromine_ids.htm
"The usual effective dosage is 30 mg per day, usually given in divided doses. If there are no signs of improvement after a reasonable period (up to 2 weeks), then the dosage may be increased in 10 mg per day increments at intervals of 1 to 3 weeks; the dosage range may be extended to a maximum of 60 mg per day from the usual 30 mg per day."
Neither gives any guidance on varying the schedule for severe depression in patients like you who have previously tolerated a high dose; and I wonder how many of those for whom Parnate has worked would have abandoned it as ineffective if their doctor had been guided by the BNF?
I'm sorry I cannot be more helpful, Cubbybear.
I suggest that you try posting your question to this new egroup - several of its 54 members are taking Parnate:
poster:Jonathan
thread:204314
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030224/msgs/204419.html