Posted by Jedi on January 18, 2006, at 2:16:18
In reply to Re: MAOI withdrawal » 4WD, posted by joemzak on January 15, 2006, at 7:25:34
Joe,
Your situation sounds very similar to mine. I've been taking Nardil off and on, mostly on, for the past 10 years. This last run has been for three years and the weight problems have gotten out of hand. I’ve gained and lost about 75 pounds a couple of times in the past three years. The carbohydrate cravings for me are intense on Nardil. I can eat three PB&J sandwiches after a full dinner, without even feeling bad about it. They say watch your chocolate consumption. Does this mean less than two pounds at a time? The only thing that has helped with the weight is two hours of strenuous exercise a day. But now, the 285 pounds has limited my ability to exercise, and is starting to cause joint problems.So, I’m tapering off also. Who told you to take a year to do it? I’ve been dropping 15mg per week, from 90mg to 15mg currently. I have had no withdrawal symptoms other than some fairly vivid dreams. I know everyone is different but a year to taper this drug seems like overkill. Besides, how can you quarter that little pill.
What gave me the courage to come off Nardil are some pretty amazing affects from Omega-3 fatty acids. I am currently taking 2400mg daily of EPA and 2000mg of DHA. This has caused some insomnia but has had some good affects on mood, inflammation, immune response, etc. A couple of months ago, I posted that I was probably a lifer on Nardil. Every time I quit I would be back in major depression. If this happens, I will be back on Nardil as fast as possible. One thing worse than being 100 pounds overweight is being in a pile on the floor with no hope and no will.
I’m just restarting my exercise program. This is all-important for the weight gain problem and overall health. Good luck in your effort to taper off Nardil. Maybe do some research on the Omega-3s. My diagnosis is treatment resistant atypical depression with social and generalized anxiety disorder. Oh, I’m staying on my 1mg of clonazepam, at least for now.
Take care,
JediOmega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15907142&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum
... The article basically talks about withdrawal from anti-depressants, with a section on MAOI. Boy, was it an eye opener. He states that if the side effects occur within a few days after stopping your medication, it is NOT depression but withdrawal - which he calls discontinuation symptoms. He talks about all kinds of side effects - including one similiar to withdrawing from SPEED! The article also has recommendations for getting off meds. I now have a new doctor and started coming off Nardil today. I take 6 pills and will reduce by 1/4 pill every 2 weeks. It will take 48 weeks, but that doesn't concern me, as long as I get off these devils!
> As far as Parnate, frankly, I need to see what my natural state of being is before I take anything else. I have been on Nardil for 18 years and maybe, just maybe, I am okay without them. 18 years ago, I started seeing a doc and was diagnosed with atypical depression. In retrospect, I believe it was and is more of a social phobic thing than depression. Anyway, the only way I will find out is to stop Nardil.
> I have found this board so comforting that I will keep everyone posted how the long road off is progressing. Thank you all. Joe
poster:Jedi
thread:424593
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060115/msgs/600253.html