Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 443969

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Trying to wean off Nardil....ugh

Posted by gardenergirl on January 18, 2005, at 20:51:30

Hi all,
I've been on Nardil for over a year now. My highest dose was 75 mg, which I couldn't tolerate due to extreme restlessness, agitation, and insomnia. I did okay at 67.5 (4.5 tabs), but anything at 60 mg or higher gives me edema. Plus, I've gained 50 pounds.

I was hoping that I could try to get to a maintenance dose, or even go back to 45 mg in order to prevent the edema and maybe even begin to lose some weight. But I tried 52.5 and 45 mg, and depression is back. I'm sleeping for many many more hours a day, and at 45mg I'm avoiding stuff again. Poopy!

So, for now I am planning to go back to 60 mg, but I will start with 52.5 and then move to 60 in a week.

Any thoughts? I am still thinking that maybe Parnate might be better for me. Last time I asked my pdoc about it, I think she mis-read the info in her PDR. I don't remember what she said, but she suggested that it stated that Parnate would cause more weight gain. This doesn't make sense to me.

Any suggestions? I do take Lasix when the edema gets too bad, but I hate that.

Thanks in advance.

gg

Re: Trying to wean off Nardil....ugh

Posted by King Vultan on January 18, 2005, at 21:50:45

In reply to Trying to wean off Nardil....ugh, posted by gardenergirl on January 18, 2005, at 20:51:30

I have the PDR, and there does not seem to be any real indication of excessive weight gain with Parnate. In fact, there is no listing of the percentage of adverse effects experienced vs. placebo at all. However, there is a vast amount of anecdotal information indicating that Parnate causes the least weight gain of the traditional MAOIs. Selegiline might be even better, which is another med you might want to consider. However, my impression is that at low dosages, anyway, selegiline is generally inferior to therapeutic dosages of either Nardil or Parnate in terms of antidepressant efficacy. At higher dosages, it may have similar efficacy, but I'm not a selegiline expert.

In my experience, Parnate is a rather different drug from Nardil. Each has pluses and minuses from a mood standpoint. Parnate seems to be a better drug for me, but I can see where some people would find Nardil more effective. From everything I've read, as well from my own experience, I do think Parnate generally has a much better side effect profile, other than in the area of insomnia, where it is probably worse for the majority of people.

Todd

Re: Trying to wean off Nardil....ugh

Posted by Maxime on January 18, 2005, at 22:38:31

In reply to Re: Trying to wean off Nardil....ugh, posted by King Vultan on January 18, 2005, at 21:50:45

Actually Nardil is the MAOI famous for making you gain weight. Since Parnate is more activating is doesn't seem to make most people gain ... of course there are always exceptions.

Maxime

> I have the PDR, and there does not seem to be any real indication of excessive weight gain with Parnate. In fact, there is no listing of the percentage of adverse effects experienced vs. placebo at all. However, there is a vast amount of anecdotal information indicating that Parnate causes the least weight gain of the traditional MAOIs. Selegiline might be even better, which is another med you might want to consider. However, my impression is that at low dosages, anyway, selegiline is generally inferior to therapeutic dosages of either Nardil or Parnate in terms of antidepressant efficacy. At higher dosages, it may have similar efficacy, but I'm not a selegiline expert.
>
> In my experience, Parnate is a rather different drug from Nardil. Each has pluses and minuses from a mood standpoint. Parnate seems to be a better drug for me, but I can see where some people would find Nardil more effective. From everything I've read, as well from my own experience, I do think Parnate generally has a much better side effect profile, other than in the area of insomnia, where it is probably worse for the majority of people.
>
> Todd

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