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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 lifelover on June 4, 2011, at 15:48:43
Life is hard right now man. Real hard. Last year november on 2009, to late may of 2010 was the best period of my life thanks to Nardil. SA(social anxiety) was 80-100 percent gone depending on the day and how much I took. But then I was hospitalized and they took me off my nardil, and now Ive been suffering for a year. SA is back and its harder to deal with after having such a good period in my life prior to my hospitalization. Ecstacy has always been a temporary fix for me but gives me no long term benifit. Ive been contemplating doing it, something I wouldnt have ever done while on Nardil. Then I try to explain my problem to my parents and my doctor and it seems like they dont understand me or they just dont care. It hurts me real bad, but the truth of the matter is I need nardil to be myself. I need nardil to live a social life,make friends, and mantain relationships. I need nardil to be able to go out, work, and hold my own in the world. But they dont seem to understand that. On a positive note my pdoc said shes willing to perscribe the nardil again if I lose the weight Ive gained while on it, so I am hopeful but its easier said then done. Plus Ive ben smoking a lot of cigs which makes losing weight a lot harder. Guys im just venting cause my life just sucks right now. Im on lithium right now and im also hoping if anyone experiences or has heard of lithium potentiating the effects of nardil? I ask this because my pdoc is hesitant to put me on a theraputic dose of nardil because of my hospitalization, and Ive heard that lithium can potentiate nardil to being more effective. So I would assume this could also make it more effective at a lower dose?Please help guys, Im struggling right now and all Im looking for is some input and advice to pull me through.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 4, 2011, at 18:36:23
In reply to my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days, posted by lifelover on June 4, 2011, at 15:48:43
If you nned to lose weight in a hurry, ask your doc for some phentermine, 30mg per day. its a mild stimulant, but it has peonounced appetite suppresant effects - you will probably drop 2kg a week on it.
If nardil makes life worth living, then some weight gain might be worth putting up with, try explaining this to the doctor, that you'd rather be happy, normal and a few kilos overweight, than slim, neurotic and miserable.
Posted by bleauberry on June 4, 2011, at 18:54:02
In reply to my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days, posted by lifelover on June 4, 2011, at 15:48:43
I guess a possible missing link here is what the hospitalization was all about.
I personally don't see lithium potentiate much of anything, maybe norepinephrine meds better than others. But overall probably an overglorified med based more on tradition and custom rather than science. I don't know, that's how I see it basically. I would like to think back on the many years I've been here and say I recall several people who had miraculous responses to lithium, but I just haven't seen it. Maybe it's just me.
Ok, so the doctor has basically drawn a line in the sand that claims your weight is more of a health/life issue than depression. I'm sorry but I strongly disagree. Yes, overweight is major killer, usually by indirect slow means. Depression is kind of the same, except more profound and more rapid. So while both are bad, I see depression as far worse than overweight. You can be overweight and yet: hold a job, be productive at a job, engage in social activities, engage in hobbies, make a difference. All easily do-able with extra weight, but not easily do-able with depression. So I just don't see the reasoning here, except that maybe there is something else about this story we don't know about, or the doctor just doesn't want to do and is making excuses. Either way, if nardil can get you back to where you were then that should be priority number one. But again, the hospitalization thing is a question mark.
And no matter what, you have to do everything possible....above and beyond anything you've ever done before....to lose weight. Eat mostly veggies and you'll be fine. Start putting a few carb snacks in there, forget it, guaranteed failure. Ya know, we can't easily control the monster called depression, but it is completely within our control what goes in the grocery cart and what goes in the mouth. We might not be stronger than our enemy depression, but we ARE stronger than food cravings. So much of life and disease is right in the food we eat, when we eat it, and how much of it we eat.
Posted by lifelover on June 4, 2011, at 19:42:31
In reply to Re: my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days, posted by bleauberry on June 4, 2011, at 18:54:02
bleauberry, thanks for your reply man. The hospitalization situation was me going "nuts" and having to go to the hospital. I think they labeled it a manic episode , but I havent ever had a manic episode of any kind prior to this. The doctors at the hospital said the nardil had some part to play in it so they stopped it. I believe that the pcp laced weed I smoked a day or 2 before had more to do with it, plus the lack of sleep. Not to mention I was taking more nardil then I should have (120mg when I was only perscribed 90mg). I know its largely my fault but I see now that I truely didnt appreciate how nardil was helping me, but Im ready to appreciate it now. I need this drug, and I know it sounds sad but it makes me functional in the world and it makes my life so much better. Its like night and day really.
Posted by zonked on June 4, 2011, at 20:02:38
In reply to Re: my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days, posted by bleauberry on June 4, 2011, at 18:54:02
> Ok, so the doctor has basically drawn a line in the sand that claims your weight is more of a health/life issue than depression. I'm sorry but I strongly disagree. Yes, overweight is major killer, usually by indirect slow means. Depression is kind of the same, except more profound and more rapid.Amen to that. I stopped Nardil during the middle of a remission (my first time on Nardil) due to weight gain (I still have mostly faded stretch marks from being on Nardil) - one of the worst decisions I've ever made. When I decided I wanted to give it a fair retrial recently, I told my doctor that if I have to be a little heavier than I'd like to be in order to function in life, that it's a price I'm willing to pay.
-z
Posted by Phillipa on June 4, 2011, at 21:54:43
In reply to Re: my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days » bleauberry, posted by zonked on June 4, 2011, at 20:02:38
I feel it depends on the amount of weight. Is it 20 or so pounds or l00's big difference. Why does this sound familiar like I've read this before? Phillipa
Posted by zonked on June 4, 2011, at 22:40:32
In reply to Re: my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days, posted by Phillipa on June 4, 2011, at 21:54:43
> I feel it depends on the amount of weight. Is it 20 or so pounds or l00's big difference. Why does this sound familiar like I've read this before? Phillipa
Nardil causes a lot of folks to gain weight. For me, it seemed to do it in two ways:
1. It caused me to crave foods (particularly savory/sweet/greasy foods, stuff I don't ordinarily eat like fried chicken) like CRAZY. And it makes food taste better than it does ordinarily.
2. (Experts weigh in please) I *think* it screws with you metabolically as well.
Small prices to pay for the relief I've gotten in the past from this drug. (Today was a so-so day. Can't wait to see how I am in a few weeks...)
-z
Posted by bleauberry on June 7, 2011, at 5:13:10
In reply to Re: my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days » bleauberry, posted by lifelover on June 4, 2011, at 19:42:31
PCP. Bingo. That's the problem, not the nardil. I know weed is fairly benign in very small doses. I am a supporter of medical use of weed, but it needs to be respected in psychiatric patients....very low doses, infrequent doses.
PCP is bad news. I think you underestimated how bad a move that was. Because otherwise you would have run from it as fast as you could.
The goal is get feeling better so that you can be productive and functional in life. PCP or any other chemical intended to get "high" are your enemies.
That said, I am a fan of medical weed but in psychiatric patients it needs to be approached with respect....very low doses, infrequent dosing, and the preplanning to stop immediately if any unexpected problems. It is tough enough to manage psych meds. Throwing some "high" drugs in the mix is going to make the whole game a lot harder.
I'm not sure how you can get out of this jam, but PCP was the cause of it.
Posted by creepy on June 13, 2011, at 9:39:55
In reply to my struggle,nardil, and my hope for better days, posted by lifelover on June 4, 2011, at 15:48:43
Sounds like you may want to see another doc. If youre afraid to go out and be active you could just gain more weight. A lot of folks with anxiety end up eating more to self-medicate.
The only thing that turned off my over-eating was topamax, but I wouldnt recommend it for weight loss or anxiety.
This is the end of the thread.
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