Posted by Girlnterrupted78 on August 15, 2007, at 22:06:17
In reply to NARDIL is a miracle drug and saved my life, posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 15, 2007, at 2:57:47
Thank you for your encouraging message, UgotaHaveHope.
I got a couple of questions for you.
You say you've been on Nardil for 10 years. So I assume you had to switch from the old Nardil to the new Nardil recently (2003), correct? So I want to ask you: how was the transition? Does the new Nardil work equally well for you as the old version did?How long did it take for it to kick in (both versions?)
I've been on the new version of Nardil for 9 weeks and I don't think it has "kicked in" yet. I do feel slightly better, but not significantly so.
My point of reference is comparing my Nardil experience to my successful SSRI (Celexa) experience. With Celexa, rating from 1-10, I probably got to an 8 or 9 in relief. Nardil is giving me probably a 4-5 relief so far. I'm going to wait longer, though. Will give it 3-4 months to see if it ends up doing what it promises to do.
Oh, and regarding side-effects: Celexa = zero side effects. Nardil? Need I even mention them? They're not terrible, in fact quite tolerable, but yes, definitely quite a set of side-effects. Beginning with the food restrictions. They aren't terrible, but enough to keep you on guard 24/7.
Second, and this is the very first time I hear from someone having the same side-effect I suffer from: Blackouts, or by its medical terminology: Syncope.
I had never heard of anyone on Nardil having this side-effect, so I was very surprised when I got it. I asked my pdoc about it, and he claimed Nardil DOES NOT cause such side-effects as syncope, so I had to go see my regular doctor to check myself for this. Geez. Some pdocs have very limited knowledge about MAOIs. I even read about this in a Nardil pamphlet. I wonder how he got the guts to prescribe it with the little knowledge he seems to have. He was the only pdoc in 4 years who agreed to prescribe it. But for that alone I think I have to be extremely grateful to him and oversee any errors on his part.
I have learned to tolerate the blackouts, and to stop them when possible. I kind of know when one is coming (you start feeling your head really warm and light..) so I either get down on the floor, sit down somewhere, or hold myself from something.
The funniest blackout I've had so far was one night that I got up from lying in bed, and for some reason I didn't see it coming, so I just kept walking. Well, I fell flat on my back!! It was hilarious. I didn't hit myself too hard because I probably ended up putting my elbows in the last minute. But it's weird because sometimes when I end up on the floor, my legs start having spasms. I almost feel like I'm going to have a seizure.
Also, when I carry heavy things, I used to have a lot of energy. Now I get tired so easily. I feel like there isn't enough oxygen running through my extremities so it causes quick exhaustion.
Anyway, thank you for posting about your experience. It is very encouraging, and well, hopefully it's true that we all have a medication waiting for us that will finally make us feel normal.
Best,
GI78
poster:Girlnterrupted78
thread:776354
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070815/msgs/776531.html