Posted by girlnterrupted78 on July 23, 2007, at 7:38:08
I finally got to see my pdoc after my severe pounding headache on 90mgs of Nardil (and after my visit to the ER) and after my endless episodes of syncope.
Well, my pdoc's response was the following:
"I don't know what caused your headache, because Nardil doesn't cause headaches, unless due to blood pressure."
"I cannot tell you what caused you syncope, because it's not a side effect of Nardil."
He was kind of dismissive on my insistence that it was the 90mgs of Nardil, and basically just denied that Nardil could be the cause of any of those symptoms, and went on about how Nardil "never caused those side effects."
I only insisted once, and figured it wasn't even worth it trying to explain that the side effects had never appeared until I went up on Nardil--and disappeared entirely the minute I went down in dosage. If he didn't want to believe it, it doesn't matter; after all, it's over and I'm entirely rid of at least the headache. The syncope, I've read myself that it's a side effect, so if the dear shrink doesn't know it, why should I even care? I'll just live with it as a Nardil side effect. I don't need his acknowledgment really.
So that was my pdoc's response. He did, however, allow me to start taking 60mgs instead (even though I had started taking it without his permission anyway.) He said "if you feel better on 60mgs, then that's fine. Stay on 60mgs." Yet he didn't acknowledge the fact that I was feeling better, as he denied the side effects! A bit of a contradiction, but whatever.
It doesn't matter. I've had worst pdoc's. At least this pdoc wasn't rude or angry. I had one that would get really pissed every time I mentioned a particular side-effect and he also said that "that could not be possible" and treated me like if I was retarded for even thinking it could be the medication.
I also asked my pdoc if I could take anything for daytime sleepiness and fatigue. He said everything was contraindicated with Nardil. I mentioned Provigil. He said it was dangerous and contraindicated. I asked him if he could double check (as I have heard of many people using Nardil and Provigil) He said he already knew it was a contraindication. So I gave up on that.
I've got to say, this is the best shrink I've had, which will obviously show what kind of pdocs I've had in the past. Unfortunately I don't have insurance, so I have to use sliding fee scale clinics, and these are the kind of pdocs they usually have.
This one I'm happy with. I don't really care if he doesn't believe me, as I could figure out things for myself and didn't end up in big trouble. As long as he prescribes Nardil and whatever else I need, I will continue with him, as I know any other pdoc in the clinic system will likely be worse in every way (as they have been so far.)
In 5 years, this is the 1st pdoc who agrees to prescribe Nardil, so that's one huge point in his favor.
I don't mind about the Provigil. I was thinking about it long term, as I know it's very expensive, so I'm not sure I will be able to afford it. I've also heard it poops out rather quickly, so I'm not sure how worth it would be.
Anyway, for those who wanted to hear about my pdoc's opinion, there you got it. Not a word of acknowledgment.
But at least I was able to discover what caused the headache and I got rid of it myself.
Thanks for reading
poster:girlnterrupted78
thread:771305
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070719/msgs/771305.html