Posted by PhoenixGirl on July 10, 2004, at 22:40:18
In reply to Experienced Parnate Users, posted by Nohope on July 10, 2004, at 18:36:03
Hi there. I *totally* relate to everything you've said. I'm 26, and have had major depression and anxiety since I was 12 years old, which is 14 years. I've tried everything under the sun, including ECT, which helped temporarily.
I started Parnate about 3 weeks ago I think. I had to wean off my other stuff before starting Parnate. I've been on the *full* 30mg dose of Parnate for only about 2 weeks, and I increased the dose to 40mg less than a week ago. It can take time for stuff to take full effect.
Anyway, what I am experiencience SO FAR is a somewhat decrease in depression and anxiety. I take Klonopin to sleep and decrease anxiety, which I've been taking since before ever starting Parnate. It helps. Parnate is somewhat activating, but I think that for me, Wellbutrin helped me stay awake more. I had to stop taking it in order to take Parnate. However, I have been taking Lamictal too, which has caused me sleepiness. I just very recently stopped taking it, so I have to wait and see how my alertness is affected.
In my experience, Parnate doesn't cause apathy. I don't know what it's like to be a healthy person, so I can only compare Parnate to the times when I've been depressed and on other drugs.
The same can be said in regards to sexual dysfunction. However, I noticed that I can still have a self-induced orgasm while taking Parnate. I actually feel a little hornier in the hours after taking Parnate. My physical feeling is *somewhat* blunted since beginning Parnate, so it takes more time to have a self-induced orgasm. When I do have an orgasm, it seems like *more* of an orgasm than before. I know that I have more sexual response when I'm with a partner, and a lot depends on what I think of that partner. I have not had a sexual partner since taking Parnate, it's just been me and my fantasies.
So these are my experiences so far on Parnate. It's been sort of a short time that I've been on it, so I guess it'll take a few more weeks to find out what the long-standing effects will be. It could even get better. We'll see. Just hang in there!
> Hi everyone.
>
> My pdoc wants me to go on Parnate for atypical depression and (severe) panic disorder. We've tried about every med under the sun and ECT too (which failed). I've been highly reluctant to try an MAOI because of the side effect profile. But what else can I take now? Nothing it seems. This has been going on for nearly 15 years now and I want some peace. Here are the side effects I hate the most (not in any particular order)
>
> - Insomnia
> - Sexual dysfunction
> - 'Brain fog'
> - Fatigue/apathy
>
> Could experienced Parnate users describe their experiences in terms of these side effects? I would be most appreciative.
>
> Nohope
>
>
poster:PhoenixGirl
thread:364823
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040710/msgs/364869.html