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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 brussell on December 18, 2003, at 15:13:41
Hello,
I've been taking Parnate for about two weeks, the last week on 30mg/day. It made me drowsy at first but that effect wore off quickly. The main SE now is that I'm very sensitive to cold.
Unfortunately, my depression has come back severely in the past week. I have very little energy and sometimes have a lot of trouble getting out of bed.
I really hope the Parnate is going to do some good--unlike the SSRI's and Effexor, I can tolerate its side effects. If it doesn't work, electroshock is about the only thing left to try.
How long did it take Parnate users on this forum to experience some remission in their depression?
Any other advice?
Thanks a lot.
Posted by ace on December 18, 2003, at 21:12:42
In reply to How long does Parnate take to start working?, posted by brussell on December 18, 2003, at 15:13:41
> Hello,
>
> I've been taking Parnate for about two weeks, the last week on 30mg/day. It made me drowsy at first but that effect wore off quickly.That's good to hear. For a lot of folk Parnate causes bad fatigue which takes a long time to shake, if ever.
The main SE now is that I'm very sensitive to cold.
>
> Unfortunately, my depression has come back severely in the past week. I have very little energy and sometimes have a lot of trouble getting out of bed.
>
> I really hope the Parnate is going to do some good--unlike the SSRI's and Effexor, I can tolerate its side effects. If it doesn't work, electroshock is about the only thing left to try.I would definately urge a trial of Nardil before ES therapy. Parnate made me depressed, Nardil made me euphoric!
But I have seen a good many great responses to Parnate- not as many as Nardil, but still a lot. People have called it 'awesome, brilliant, wonderful etc etc'. Overall, it kills the SSRIs.
> How long did it take Parnate users on this forum to experience some remission in their depression?I have done a lot of research on MAOIs and Parnate is definately quick acting for many. But you may need a higher dose- like up to 60/70mg. I would say give it 6 weeks max- but make sure for four weeks of those 6 your on a preety high dose - 50-70mg.
>
> Any other advice?Be patient, give Nardil a try if Parnate bombs out, and all the very best to you.
> Thanks a lot.ace.
Posted by brussell on December 18, 2003, at 22:02:25
In reply to Re: How long does Parnate take to start working?, posted by ace on December 18, 2003, at 21:12:42
Thanks a lot for the reply, Ace.
I am very fatigued right now but I was before I started Parnate--I think it's more the depression than the drug. I hope the Parnate isn't making it worse.
My main concern with Nardil is that it could cause weight gain. I have a terrible self-image to begin with, and it's hard to describe how devastating any signficant weight gain would be to my nearly non-existent self-esteem.
Thanks
Posted by wsj on December 19, 2003, at 0:45:54
In reply to How long does Parnate take to start working?, posted by brussell on December 18, 2003, at 15:13:41
i had to go up in dosage quicker than the pdoc prescribed for the reasons you are stating, fatigue and trouble being motivated to even get out of bed. going up on dosage(60mg by day 11, 70mg by day 14) helped me alot w/energy, motivation, and depression. ace fails to mention that he did not give parnate an adequate trial or that more people get fatigue from nardil than from parnate!
good luck,
wsj
Posted by ace on December 19, 2003, at 1:40:18
In reply to Re: How long does Parnate take to start working? » brussell, posted by wsj on December 19, 2003, at 0:45:54
ace fails to mention that he did not give parnate an adequate trial or that more people get fatigue from nardil than from parnate!
Not true. More people get sexual dysfunction, anorgasmia, and many more symptoms from Nardil than Parnate. However, fatigue, NOT sedation, is much more common with Parnate. I have over 50 specialized papers on MAOIs and statistics are consistent with this fact.
Secondly, I did give Parnate an adequate trial in the context of my situation. I was looking at a severe clinical depression at the 3 week mark on Parnate. This is called paradoxical depression (depression caused by an AD). This usually never lasts more than 1 week. People are advised to dump the med if it lasts longer. But I wanted to give it a real go. And, furthermore, I would have given Parnate up to 12 weeks if I didn't suffer from any paradoxical depression.
I believe Parnate and Nardil are great. However, from my experience, and both anecdotal and clinical research, Nardil comes out on top.
If Parnate works for someone-- great. But if all is bleak after a few eeks I think the red flag is raised.
Ace.
> good luck,
> wsj
>
Posted by wsj on December 19, 2003, at 22:45:36
In reply to Re: How long does Parnate take to start working? » wsj, posted by ace on December 19, 2003, at 1:40:18
fatigue - Physical or mental weariness resulting from exertion. Something, such as tiring effort or activity, that causes weariness
sedation - Reduction of anxiety, stress, irritability, or excitement by administration of a sedative agent or drug. The state or condition induced by a sedative.
by definition a drug cannot cause fatigue.
i have read several accounts of bad periods longer than a week followed by prolonged depression free period.
respectfully disagree,
wsj
Posted by brussell on December 19, 2003, at 22:57:47
In reply to Re: How long does Parnate take to start working? » ace, posted by wsj on December 19, 2003, at 22:45:36
I don't want to jinx myself, but I upped my dosage to 40 mg/day, and I seem to be getting a good effect on both my depression and anxiety.
Thanks to ace and everyone else who has posted on the importance of going above 30mg/day if necessary.
On side effects, I would definitely describe Parnate's effect as fatigueing rather than sedating. I feel mentally sharp and alert, yet I feel physically drained as if I had gone for a ten mile run. This effect is noticeable when I increase the dose, but fortunately it seems to get better with time.
Wow, after ten years, if this drug actually works. . .
Posted by wsj on December 20, 2003, at 0:30:12
In reply to It seems to be kicking in, posted by brussell on December 19, 2003, at 22:57:47
great for you! hopefully things will only get better w/ time!
wsj
Posted by cubbybear on December 23, 2003, at 0:39:05
In reply to It seems to be kicking in, posted by brussell on December 19, 2003, at 22:57:47
> I don't want to jinx myself, but I upped my dosage to 40 mg/day, and I seem to be getting a good effect on both my depression and anxiety.
>
> Thanks to ace and everyone else who has posted on the importance of going above 30mg/day if necessary.
>
> On side effects, I would definitely describe Parnate's effect as fatigueing rather than sedating. I feel mentally sharp and alert, yet I feel physically drained as if I had gone for a ten mile run. This effect is noticeable when I increase the dose, but fortunately it seems to get better with time.
>
> Wow, after ten years, if this drug actually works. . .Hi Brussell,
Sorry, I would have posted earlier but I've been under the weather with laryngitis and have gotten a bit lazy about checking this board.
Just as Ace is Psychobabble's "official" crusader for Nardil, I would like to claim a similar title for Parnate. I've been taking it for nearly 20 years. I'll just say for now, that my (re)starting dose has ALWAYS been 40 mg./day and on one occasion, I had to go up to 50 mg/day for a few weeks, to get it going. After a couple of months, usually, I'll drop down to a maintenace dose of 30 mg/day. To be honest, I seem to be in the minority who experiences a weight gain on Parnate, so you'll have to see for yourself. I wish you the best and if you have any other questions on this miracle drug, go ahead and shoot.
cubbybear
This is the end of the thread.
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