Posted by Ron Hill on August 13, 2009, at 0:57:02
In reply to Nardil: first time user, posted by jpiper on August 9, 2009, at 11:14:03
> My doc gave me a prescription for Nardil for depression, GAD, and SAD.
Are you working with a family doc or a p-doc?
> I have some trepidation about taking this medication because of bad experiences with Prozac.
Nardil has completely different effects than Prozac.
> I was off and on Prozac for years and in the end the emotional bluntness
This is known as SSRI Apathy.
> and inability to concentrate was too much too bear so I got off it, but the withdrawal from Prozac was really quite bad. It included strange bouts of anger and erratic behavior. I do feel like I've had some lasting bad effects from Prozac and I would be worried that the same thing will happen with Nardil. I'm worried that if I ever want to get off of Nardil, that the withdrawal process would be so bad as to keep me on it. This sort of happened with Prozac - which is really why I was off and on it for so long. Any experiences with withdrawal from Nardil?
Withdrawal symptoms vary from one person to another. For me, withdrawal from Nardil was difficult. However, I dropped my dosage way too quickly because I wanted to wash out Nardil as fast as possible so I could begin a trial of Parnate. As an aside, Parnate did not work for me and I am back on Nardil. The key to withdrawal is to SLOWLY ramp down.
> Also, I've been reading about the "euphoria" episodes that some people have on Nardil. I really don't want that. I just want to be calm and get a grip on my racing thoughts
You have racing thoughts? Does your doc know this? Nardil will not help your racing thoughts. In fact, it could make them worse. Has anyone tested you for bipolar disorder? Please take the survey tests below. For me, a very good med to control racing thoughts is Trileptal (oxcarbazapine). Racing thoughts can be a symptom of hypomania or mania. Any bipolar patient MUST be on a full dose of moodstabilizer(s) PRIOR to the addition of an antidepressant!!
> so I can start thinking in a more logical fashion again. Is there a way to avoid the euphoria? Perhaps some folks never experience this? What if I take a low dose, like 15 mg per day?
Most people need 1 mg of Nardil for every kg of body weight.
> Other side effects that troubled me with Prozac (I know they are very different drugs, but Prozac is the only other AD I've ever taken so it's my only point of reference) was slurred speech and difficulty with word recall (that has remained to some degree even after being off Prozac for 2 years). Has anyone had effects like this on Nardil?
No, but Nardil does have side effects. Weight gain. I have gained 50 pounds. For me, at 90 mg/day, Nardil causes erectile dysfunction and delayed orgasm.
> Any feedback that you could give for a first time Nardil user would be great.If you take Nardil, follow the MAOI diet.
Please print and complete the screening test provided immediately below BEFORE looking at the grading criteria:
http://i.cmpnet.com/CME/pt/PDF/MDQ_Quest.pdfGrading criteria:
http://i.cmpnet.com/CME/pt/PDF/MDQ_Instructs.pdfHere is the published paper discussing the above test:
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/157/11/1873?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&volume=157&firstpage=1873&resourcetype=HWCIT#A1Here is another screening test. Please print and complete this screening test BEFORE looking at the scoring instructions below:
http://imaging.cmpmedica.com/CME/pt/PDF/BSDSScale.pdfScoring instructions:
http://imaging.cmpmedica.com/CME/pt/PDF/BSDSScoring.pdf-- Ron
dx: Bipolar II with ultra rapid cycling and mild OCPD
600 mg/day Trileptal
200 mg/day Lamictal
500 mg/day Keppra
90 mg/day Nardil
poster:Ron Hill
thread:911112
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090810/msgs/911879.html