Posted by LLL on July 30, 2002, at 17:50:44
In reply to Re: Paxil and Anxiety/LLL, posted by house on July 30, 2002, at 14:14:18
Yes both Nardil and Parnate worked beautifully. I've been highly anxious, with phobia's and obsessive intrusive thoughts since childhood. Although my symptoms wax and wane (now waxing!)the MAOI's were the only thing that made me feel like a normal person. The panic stopped, the anticipatory anxiety was greatly diminished as was the agoraphobic response. I was still restricted in my life (wouldn't fly or take a car trip alone - at least not for a long trip) but was MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more functional and at peace. That inner voice of "what if" was silenced. I switched off the Nardil because of the weight gain (vanity) and some other symptoms (nothing major) and found Parnate to just pick up where I left off but with a bonus of weight loss, increased energy and increased libido. Unfortunately this time around I couldn't handle the Parnate but my new doc said to start it again but VERY slowly (1/2 tablet/day for 7 days increasing by 1/2 table every 7 days) provided there's no more tachycardia. It's also good to have on hand some xanax (I use only 1/2 of .25) or low dose Klonopin to get you through the initial energizing effects of the Parnate. However, if you feel you'd be succesful on a SSRI then go for it - they're certainly better undertood and accepted by the medical community. I happen to not only be sensitive to the side effects of ALL types of med's I'm frightened of them, so it's double hard for me to handle what the SSRI's do initially to anxiety and panic. My new doc said she'd never recommend Paxil, Prozac, Effexor or Remeron for someone like me. She did recommend if the Parnate bites me once again to consider Zoloft or Celexa, combined with Klonopin. My plan though is to switch back to the Nardil if the Parnate causes the tachycardia again since it's less energizing.
Hope I helped.
Good Luck,
lisa
poster:LLL
thread:114402
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/114458.html