Posted by saltate on July 27, 2005, at 16:19:57
In reply to Re: To Saltate, posted by denise1966 on July 27, 2005, at 15:30:19
> Hi Saltate,
>
> I was just wondering how long it took before the Nardil actually kicked in and how you felt before it did?
>
> The reason I ask is that I gave up on Nardil after about a month because I didn't like the way I felt on it anymore than I liked the way I felt being off meds with just the depression. Just wondering how it affected you initially and how long it took to work??
>
>
> DeniseHi Denise. It took me about a month on the nardil for it to really kick in. I was on 15 mg for 5 days, 30 mg for 5 days, 45 mg for 5 days, then 60 mg for about two weeks I think, maybe more. Before it really kicked in, I felt some sporadic improvement, then it would go away and I'd wonder if it wasn't psycho-somatic. I have been on many anti-depressants and am relentlessly analytical of my own mind state. It kicked in over the course of two or three days. One thing in hindsight I noticed is even before i really felt it i was going out alot more and being more social. I don't have social phobia, but i did have pretty severe anhedonia, so this was a little unusual. One night I stayed out with a firend really late and i realized I was seeing a new aspect of her personality and it fascinated me and I found it exciting that I would be interesting in something trivial. The next morning my friends woke me up and we went out all day, and I found myself really enjoying the night. I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while that night, and I found myself telling her about how i thought people in general were worth being invested in. For the sake of compketeness, i should also include the fact that I smoked some marijuana later that night. I know people on the board have mixed feelings about illegal drugs, and I don't recommend it as a means for potentiating anti-depressants, i just want to be honest about my experience. Anyway, i usually don't enjoy marijuana, it makes me detached and anxious, but that night I had the urge to and it was extremely enjoyable. The next morning when I woke up I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the morning and I realized that for the first time in years, I felt undeniably good. It is my third day since then, and I definetly feel that without a doubt and without the possibility of psycho-somatic experience, i have undergone a mental shift where I am back in touch with my positive emotions. I am not out of touch with reality. i got some heavy news from a friend last night, and I was troubled for it by awhile, but instead of dwelling on it for days and obsessing I find I can take it for what it is and recognize it is her issue not mine. This is not something I would have been capable of while depressed.
As far as quitting antidepressants making you feel better, I have experienced this phenomenon too. I would quit, and feel better for a few days, maybe even up to a week, but inevitably the depression would return. I think it might have to do with falling serotonin levels creating a temporary rise in dopamine production, producing a sense of satisfaction with the decision.
poster:saltate
thread:533607
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050723/msgs/534336.html