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New Poster-Dysthymia/Anhedonia/Parnate

Posted by SDW on December 5, 2004, at 11:14:02

I’m a new poster, though I’ve been lurking for a week or two….


Here’s my deal…

For the last 2 years I have had a mild chronic depression (dysthymia)characterized by severe fatigue, apathy, lack of motivation, anhedonia. I have been taking Amphetamine in order to function with the fatigue, but it did nothing for the depression. I’m reached the limit of my tolerance for walking around half alive (half dead?).

I have an excellent doc (psychopharmacologist) and I just restarted *Parnate* 2-3 weeks ago after a 5-month break with the hope of a renewed response.


*History…*

I first took Parnate for severe major depression while in college (after failures with Prozac and negligible results with Nortryptiline). About 3 weeks after I started Parnate (30-40mg) I had a dramatic response, and by 6 weeks I was free of 90-95% of symptoms with very few side effects. Parnate is a tremendous and shamefully underused drug IMO, but that’s another issue altogether.

I was very well for about 1 year, and then the effects began to diminish. I was able to up the dose to 60 mg and got another year out of it. I have been on and off Parnate several times; it works, but after 6 –12 months it starts to poop out.

I have tried 5-6 other ADs with minimal results or no response. I have also tried augmentation of Parnate with 1-Lithium, 2-Lamictal,
3-Cytomel(T3). Cytomel was the only thing that offered any additional benefit, but it was modest.

*Current Plan…*

Since I know Parnate has the potential to work for me and I have tolerated it well, my doc is prepared to go up to 90-100 mg, but he wants me to hold steady at 60 mg for a few weeks first to see if stopping and restarting made a difference. We have discussed eventually adding Wellbutrin or a dopamine drug to the mix.

I’m hungry for any thoughts/suggestions/questions and I look forward to contributing…

Thanks in advance for your insight,

Stephen (Steve)
Male, 36 y/o - USA



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poster:SDW thread:424684
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041201/msgs/424684.html