Posted by SLS on October 29, 2009, at 14:37:50
In reply to Parnate losing effectiveness. Why?? Help please., posted by Girlnterrupted78 on October 29, 2009, at 1:14:33
It seems that many people need 80mg of Parnate to obtain a stable response.
I am currently having luck with the following treatment regime:
Parnate 80mg
nortriptyline 150mg
Lamictal 200mg
Abilify 20mg
lithium 900mgMy illness has a bipolar counterpart to it. The amount of lithium I am taking is greater than what is usually needed when it is used as an augmenter in unipolar depression. 300-600mg has been shown to be an effective dosage range for this purpose. My opinion is that one can respond to blood levels as low as 0.3 mEq/L. The nice thing about lithium is that if it is going to work in this role, it works fast, often within 3 days. If you feel no better by the end of two weeks, it is probably of no therapeutic value.
Adding a tricyclic antidepressant like nortriptyline to Parnate can produce dramatic results. Unfortunately, I doubt many doctors are willing to prescribe such a combination.
The antipsychotic Abilify has some pro-dopaminergic properties that have been described by some as being a dopamine system stabilizer (DSS). It is unique in this regard.
Lamictal rarely works as an antidepressant on its own, but can act as an effective augmentor.
It is only natural that people extol the value of the various treatment strategies that they have had success with. I can think of other things to try, but for now, I prefer to describe the things that I have seen work well for me.
I wish you the best of luck. That you have been partially or transiently responsive to Parnate monotherapy bodes well for your eventual success in treating your depression.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:923267
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091029/msgs/923364.html