Posted by zonked on July 21, 2011, at 16:20:33
In reply to Nardil progress report, posted by zonked on July 21, 2011, at 8:34:54
Phew, actual computer keyboard. Much easier to post. :-)
So, yeah, it's definitely working. The way Nardil makes one feel is rather distinct; and it has been more and more consistent as I've been on it longer.
Unscientifically speaking, I think this puts me in the "responder" category, on my way to remission. I still have 15mgs to play with, if a dose increase is necessary (you can go up to 90 according to the prescribing info, perhaps more if absolutely necessary), plus more time.
As I said in the previous post, there are some thinking patterns that depression has hammered into my head, and bad habits I've acquired which, like a computer program that needs debugging, will continue to require proactive challenges on my part to fix - I am not always 100% successful at this, but it's getting easier and easier not to have a defeatist mindset (and defeatist FEELING) about everything.
My sex drive has BEGUN to return, and I hope it continues to my non-depressed baseline.
I initiate conversations with strangers on the metro. I call people more often. I am no longer afraid of my (nice) neighbors!
On the bad side: It's made me want to smoke more (up to 1pk/day now) and that is a bit pricey. My insurance will cover the 21mg patches in about a week, and as soon as they do, I will commit myself to some initial discomfort and buy a few packs of chewing gum. :-)
For the low quality sleep Nardil provides, I may ask next appointment for Temazepam. It's helped with Nardil-insomnia in the past. For now I make due with doxylamine succinate and an occasional extra Klonopin.
I am not 100% "there" yet, but well on my way. I expect in several months, I won't be thinking about my condition so much. I'll be back to living my life the way I want it.
As jedi says, Nardil is THE "bomb". I've said before - my reason for going off of it during the last remission it caused was weight gain. This time, if despite my efforts, I have to be carried around as cargo on an 18-wheeler, I don't care! Life is too prescious to worry about cosmetic things like that. And so far as I said before, I've *lost* weight..
Before starting Nardil, I was literally terrified to be alone for more than 5 minutes. And I had to be with someone close to me personally, not just anyone. I can't imagine ever having to return to that state. Constant terror, morning dread (which turned into day-long dread and nightmares)... wasn't able to enjoy anything. NOTHING.
Do antidepressants work? In my case, this particular one does. No amount of psychotherapy, yoga, vitamins, healthy diet, exercise, candlelit baths, massage would allow me to function like this. And I can say that because, med-less, and sometimes with meds that didn't work, I've tried them all. It is ONLY now that these things are able to help, and they do! (Well, the healthy diet and exercise are things I've been able to initiate now. I take a B+C complex every other day @ bedtime.)
I hope someone who reads this, some day, who's failed on SSRIs, SSNRIs, TCAs, NaSSAs, SARIs, and NDRIs mentions Nardil to his or her doctor, rather than doing ECT *first* or adding antipsychotics. Trying a MAOI is well worth your while.
THANK YOU, babble. I will continue to keep you guys updated. I know I've had some less than stellar days, but they seem to be thinning out; and I don't expect to not ever feel bad, ever; sometimes maybe even for no reason. But I expect those times to lessen in frequency, definitely.
Your fellow (recovering) depressive,
-z
poster:zonked
thread:991503
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110714/msgs/991523.html