Posted by jedi on January 19, 2011, at 23:09:44
In reply to Re: Insomnia/Nardil Issues » gardenergirl, posted by mantus on January 19, 2011, at 20:34:13
> Gg,
>
> Are you still on Nardil? And if so how well did it work on your anxiety/depression? What dosage did you use? How long till you noticed at significant difference? And did the insomnia eventually go away?
>
> Thanks,
>
> MantusMantus,
I've been on Nardil for most of the past 12 years so thought I would put my two cents in. I have always had some degree of insomnia from the medication. At first I was on trazodone, but this med tends to leave me hungover even at low dosages. I've taken clonazepam(Klonopin) for years-currently taking .5mg nightly, cutting down from 2mg. I've also taken low dose Seroquel for Nardil induced insomnia. As little as 12.5mg daily would knock me right out. This is another med that you have to watch out for that morning hangover effect. I am really sensitive to the meds that affect histamine receptors. This has been lucky for me with Nardil insomnia. I currently take 50mg of Benadryl nightly and it will always make me tired. Some people react differently to the meds that affect histamine receptors, so your mileage may vary.I take Nardil for treatment resistant atypical depression and social anxiety. It works very well for both. I am left with a residual level of dysthymia even with Nardil up to 90mg. Diagnosed with double depression. The effective dosage of Nardil for me is between 60 and 90mg. I am currently taking 75mg after being on 60mg for many months.
I have discontinued Nardil at least a half dozen times over the past 12 years. Each time, within a few months, the major depression has returned. This can be a dangerous strategy since sometimes it can be hard to find a MD who will prescribe the MAOIs. I keep trying to quit because of the major side effects of weight gain and delayed orgasm. But now, with all of the failed attempts at quitting the medication, I have resigned myself to being a lifer. This can be tough, since my insurance only covers generic meds and Nardil is not available in generic. At least in the US.
When I first started taking Nardil, I gained over 100 pounds in the first couple of years. It really affects carbohydrate cravings if you lean in that direction. I have finally gotten a handle on this through exercise and a modified low carb diet and have lost about 80% of the weight I gained. At my lowest effective dosage of 60mg the delayed orgasm is under control. As my dosage gets towards 90mg, that side effect is more of a problem. The insomnia is always with me but controlled mainly with the histamine receptor medications. I have never been able to get a good MAO inhibition at 45mg of Nardil. I wish I could get that dosage to work, since it also produces no side effects.
Good luck with Nardil. It is the "Bomb" when everything else fails for atypical depression and social anxiety.
Be Well,
Jedi
Jedi
Treatment resistant, atypical, double depression with social anxiety.
Nardil + clonazepam
poster:jedi
thread:977425
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110115/msgs/977490.html