Posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 14:49:38
In reply to KimCrazyLady, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 12, 2006, at 13:41:09
> That's great to hear that Parnate helps you. Please elaborate. How long have you been on it? What does it make you feel like? How long did it take for you to feel its effect? What does are you on? Thanks, Michael
Hmm. I generally feel the first effects of Parnate, regarless of dosage, in the first few days. They say it takes weeks to feel anything, but for me, Parnate starts to work right away and then the full effects kick in after several weeks. I was prescribed this drug by a wonderful doctor when I was in my early 20's and had tried every AD out there, including the all new Prozac. I was on Parnate for years and doing much better, so we tapered off it and I went a round without any drugs. I had hoped the years of drug therapy and counseling had "cured" me. Fat chance! Of course, my depression returned. I then tried some of the newer drugs and had no luck, so it was back to the Parnate. I was on it again for about five years when I had a car accident and they discovered I had an aneursym in my ascending aorta. Docs all freaked since I'm high risk for dropping dead due to any BP change, so I choose to go off it since my 60mg dose had kind of pooped out and my doc would not go any higher. Bad, bad move for me. I ended up so screwed up I couldn't function and was on disability from work for four months.
During that time I tried Cymbalta and oral selegiline and a few others, to no avail. I've also done the rounds of multiple meds over the years, but Parnate alone seems to be the best for me. Nothing short of 60 mg will do the trick, but I do feel a slight improvement even when I start out at 20 or 30. My mood improves and I can actually get out of bed. I am able to shower, brush my teeth and even watch a tv show and concentrate on it on the low doses. Funny that things most people take for granted are like gifts from heaven to me. I get energy and want to live life again.
I've been back on the Parnate for a few months and am just getting back to 60 mg. I'm doing well again, thankfully. The SSRI's and SNRI's make me completely nuts (no pun intended). I thought about suicide and cutting up people when I was on Cymbalta last fall. I honestly believe some people have serotonin problems and others have dopamine, etc. problems. I hate that MAO's are not prescribed more. They are NOT as scary as the docs pretend. Heck, most of the old food warnings are even bull. I've had emergency and elective surgery with no anesthesia problems at all. You MUST tell the docs, but they don't worry about it like they used to. I know which foods are safe and the ones I have to avoid. I've had no problems, even with my issues of BP. After finding the aneursym, they did add a BP med because they want mine to be on the low side, but my doc approved me to go back to Parnate. He saw it was either that or I'd have no life so to speak of.
I would love to try the new patch, but I cannot go off Parnate and wash out. It's not an option for me right now. I'm just getting back into my job and doing well. I can't go back to hell so soon! Parnate is not perfect and I did have some sleepy times at first, but over time it works and has few side effects for me. No sexual side effects either...yeah!!
I hope the emsam works for you. For me, Parnate is the difference between a pretty good life and a living hell. Good luck. I hope I answered all your questions without boring you to death. Please keep me posted.
Kim
poster:kimcrazylady
thread:642931
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060510/msgs/643083.html