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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NardilQueen on November 19, 2002, at 0:56:53
I went to pick up my Nardil prescription tonight and the pharmacy showed me an email from Pfizer saying that Nardil's "production suspended until 2003." In other words, Pfizer isn't supplying Nardil (except with an extra doctor's letter and in "drop ship" method only for "absolute medical necessity").
What is this about? Why aren't they making and selling Nardil? I've been taking it for 16 years and this is the first time I've ever seen anything like it. The pharmacist said it may be a game of politics on Pfizer's part. Huh? Anyone have any info on this? Pfizer's website has absolutely nothing!
Most importantly, how/where do I get my Nardil?
Thanks!
Posted by cosis on November 19, 2002, at 7:02:11
In reply to Nardil supply stopped!!??, posted by NardilQueen on November 19, 2002, at 0:56:53
I heard there was a shortage of Nardil and the maker was not able to fit the supply until next month.. Rite Aid Pharmacy told me they stopped making it but I didn't believe that. I was able to find a pharmacy that still had it, hopefully by the time my next prescription runs out they will start supplying it.
Posted by J200 on November 19, 2002, at 14:11:18
In reply to Nardil supply stopped!!??, posted by NardilQueen on November 19, 2002, at 0:56:53
Can you get it as the generic, phenelzine ? Alternatively, you might want to try oneof the "legitimate" on-line pharmacies like drugstore.com (owned by Rite-Aid) or Walgreen's.
Posted by djmmm on November 19, 2002, at 20:49:49
In reply to Nardil supply stopped!!??, posted by NardilQueen on November 19, 2002, at 0:56:53
????????
I take nardil, I'm going to call my pharm tomorrow...it seems irresponsible on pfizers part not to give any notice...ill check their website
Posted by Angel1 on November 19, 2002, at 21:12:34
In reply to Nardil supply stopped!!??, posted by NardilQueen on November 19, 2002, at 0:56:53
Hello Nardil Queen,
Could you inform me of any side effets you may have encountered when first starting this drug.
I am wondering specifically about weight gain.
I am a slim female with a somewhat treatmemt resistant depression and have often considered Nardil, but have never tried it because of the weight gain side effect. It must be wonderful to
have a drug work for you for 16 years. Amazing and lucky for you. Have you been able to live a happy and successful life because of Nardil?
I would love to hear more about this. Thank you.
Angel1
Posted by missliz on November 20, 2002, at 2:22:40
In reply to Re: Nardil supply stopped!!??Nardil Queen, posted by Angel1 on November 19, 2002, at 21:12:34
I had this problem with Tegretol last year, and you have to send Phizer a slightly hysterical e mail to get any info. mention that you are dependent on the drug and see the situation as life and death. The drop ship thing is no big deal, I've had it done before. the pharmacist being a lazy jerk is the big problem there. You may need to talk to a superviser. Doctors letter? Didn't he already write a prescription?
You might call your insurance co.- they aren't interested in paying for inpatient treatment and might also make noise on your behalf.
Didn't Phizer consider the possible litigation and liability problems here? Nardil isn't interchangeable, espescially for social phobics. Hell, write your Congressman. The drug company has a certain social resposibility here.miss liz
Posted by NardilQueen on November 22, 2002, at 0:02:02
In reply to Re: Nardil supply stopped!!??, posted by J200 on November 19, 2002, at 14:11:18
> Can you get it as the generic, phenelzine ? Alternatively, you might want to try oneof the "legitimate" on-line pharmacies like drugstore.com (owned by Rite-Aid) or Walgreen's.
I asked at my drugstore (Osco) if there was a generic and they looked on the computer and there wasn't one. Sounds right because seems like I would have heard of it at some point over the past decade if there was one. Good idea about the online pharmacies--may try this route. Thanks.
Posted by NardilQueen on November 22, 2002, at 0:17:53
In reply to Re: Nardil supply stopped!!??Nardil Queen, posted by Angel1 on November 19, 2002, at 21:12:34
> Hello Nardil Queen,
>
> Could you inform me of any side effets you may have encountered when first starting this drug.
> I am wondering specifically about weight gain.
> I am a slim female with a somewhat treatmemt resistant depression and have often considered Nardil, but have never tried it because of the weight gain side effect. It must be wonderful to
> have a drug work for you for 16 years. Amazing and lucky for you. Have you been able to live a happy and successful life because of Nardil?
> I would love to hear more about this. Thank you.
> Angel1
>Hey Angel1,
I couldn't honestly tell you whether I've gained weight because of it or not. I wasn't even aware that this was particularly worrisome with Nardil. Maybe the fact that I wasn't aware of this is a sign that it didn't make me gain a lot? Of course, each person's body will have its own reaction.Nardil has been great for me. I take three 15mg tablets a day (one each a.m., mid-day, and around 5 p.m.). I know it makes a real, definable difference in my energy level. I know because if I find myself feeling tired, sighing loudly, or getting irritable in the afternoon, it's a cue to me that I've forgotten to take it that day. So, I take the tablets right then and there and get more energy to deal with life in just a few hours.
When I first started to take the drugs, there were no noticeable side effects. It takes about two weeks to kick in and I remember the day it did--my mother picked me up from work and I wasn't grumpy, I actually had the energy to be nice to her. That's really the best description of what this drug has done for me.
In my 16 years, I have only had two of the dreaded food reactions and the reaction was so immediate that I was knew right away to stop eating, waited a few minutes, and the symptoms went away. (Blue cheese made my pulse race. Corned beef gave me an immediate strong headache in the back of my head.)
Those types of reactions are what I'd say are the biggest downfall (for me). I can't take any cold or flu medications, allergy meds, or any of the new fancy headache medications because of possible interactions. For my mother (who also took Nardil), this became a big enough downside to try other antidepressants.
Hope that helps.
Nardil Queen
Posted by NardilQueen on November 22, 2002, at 0:31:04
In reply to Re: Nardil supply stopped!!??Nardil Queen, posted by missliz on November 20, 2002, at 2:22:40
misliz,
Sounds like you're right on with the hysterical bit needed for the drop ship. I called my old psychiatrist and that's what his assistant advised. Yes, the doctor's letter is a nice little obstacle they put in the way, isn't it.Unfortunately, Pfizer responded to my doctor's letter saying they didn't have any supply to drop ship. One can only hope they are being honest when they say they should have a supply in hand by the first week in December.
I will try the call to my insurance company to see if they're willing to do anything, though. Your suggested approach gets right down to the bottom line, too--thanks.
I appreciate your comments about Pfizer's liability. That seems almost hardest to understand--especially after a tip from my father's friend to look at www.af-pharmacists.org in their publications/recalls section. It shows that on SEPTEMBER 17 Pfizer issued a recall because the Nardil they were producing didn't meet the required "assay specs on stability." So those b*stards knew that they were going to run out all the way back in September and made no attempt to inform people so we could seek alternate treatments in a timely manner. And, of course, the guy at Pfizer's 800 number didn't mention this. (Creeps!!!!!!)
I, too, don't feel it's interchangeable. And to not give people adequate time to have the choice to go off the drug and start another. Shame on them. I've been thinking about writing my Congressional reps, but everyone else has just kind of shrugged their shoulders when I've brought it up. Thank you for being the first one to volunteer this and to share a belief in the principle of social accountability! God knows they've made enough money off of me!
Cheers,
Nardil Queen
This is the end of the thread.
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