Posted by jclint on November 30, 2005, at 20:54:01
In reply to Re: Living on antipsychotics - a retrospective, posted by willyee on November 30, 2005, at 18:41:56
Yes a lot of people *really really* like Seroquel, and Zyprexa. I guess, when it works, it really works for some people. I'd hate to put you off with my experience... the tiredness can reside after a while, but it never really did for me. But they were both just too hardcore for me. Like hitting my brain with a sledgehammer when it really needed some fine retweaking. My mate is on lowish dose Zyprexa however and seems to be having a much milder experience than I did - swings and roundabouts. At first APs sounded exciting, now I'm slightly angry at how reckless the drug companies are being, trying to get such hardcore drugs promoted for much 'milder' psych problems than psychosis - I think med_empowered pointed this view out before I started, and I know what he meant now. As I said, I'm still dealing with the effects some months after quitting. But I'm not bitter, it was worth a go.
You ask about MAOIs - hmm, I never really got far, I took nardil for about 6 weeks but got the fear and gave up. But I'd rather be on Nardil than an antipsychotic, anyday. The side effects weren't too bad, some sexual, not much else... didn't feel too different from normal ADs. Although I remember feeling less emotionally blunted than on Effexor and Cymbalta. I never ran into a problem with the restrictions - drank quite a bit, stuck to bottled beer and vodka, ate pizza from Domino's... there's not much that's really dangerous; if you've got willpower it would be very easy to live by. I just got lazy - I wasn't feeling the effects and wanted some strong cheddar! There are some excellent revised food charts that give up to date info about whats *really* dangerous, I would be able to send them had I not broken my harddrive! But I'm sure someone else has them. The drug restrictions are more inhibiting in some ways. You cant do most recreational drugs. Decongestants are out. Some painkillers too. Its just a hassle if you have a headache, or sinus problems like I do. But I'd definately not sway you away from MAOIs if you have a chance to get them, if you've failed some other things - I think I'd rather be on an MAOI than a TCA, side effects wise. I didn't feel drugged or tired. I'm afraid I didn't take it long enough to give you any real info about its effects - although most people who've tried it here say its an extremely potent AD, and effective for symptoms that other ADs don't work on, ie social anxiety, which was one of the things I was trying to treat. I don't know if it would have had an effect on me though, seeing as I've responded well to Lamictal - makes me wonder whether I needed an AD in the first place, or just a stabilizer - its not important though.
Take care, John :)
poster:jclint
thread:583797
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051126/msgs/583897.html