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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Questionmark on June 3, 2003, at 3:51:48
i've been on Parnate for a month now (3 wks at 20mg). So far i am pretty disappointed as i get daily headaches (not hypertensive; er not dangerously so at least), have excessive anxiety (even more) and agitation, bad insomnia, and aggravation of my obsessive compulsive problems-- and my already poor appetite has further diminished. On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved. But it's still not at all worth it so far. i told my dr i believed i should try Nardil, but he said to wait on the Parnate another month.
i was on 30mg for a few days but this only aggravated everything-- not good-- so raising the dose is not a good option. So, but, do you think that the effects of Parnate can still improve (after being on a month already), or is it pretty much going to be like this the whole way through? If the latter i'd much rather get on Nardil right away/ asap. Heck i liked Paxil better than this.
Thanks for input.
Posted by cubbybear on June 3, 2003, at 5:43:38
In reply to Parnate, posted by Questionmark on June 3, 2003, at 3:51:48
> i've been on Parnate for a month now (3 wks at 20mg). So far i am pretty disappointed as i get daily headaches (not hypertensive; er not dangerously so at least), have excessive anxiety (even more) and agitation, bad insomnia, and aggravation of my obsessive compulsive problems-- and my already poor appetite has further diminished. On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved. But it's still not at all worth it so far. i told my dr i believed i should try Nardil, but he said to wait on the Parnate another month.
> i was on 30mg for a few days but this only aggravated everything-- not good-- so raising the dose is not a good option. So, but, do you think that the effects of Parnate can still improve (after being on a month already), or is it pretty much going to be like this the whole way through? If the latter i'd much rather get on Nardil right away/ asap. Heck i liked Paxil better than this.
> Thanks for input.I've had lots of positive experience with Parnate. Your case sounds like a tough judgement call, since you're on a low dose and have given it about 3 weeks already. If you've found that you can't tolerate a higher dose, then I would say to give it about 2-3 more weeks. Your doc's recommendation for another month is too long a trial, I think.
On the other hand, side effects almost always disappear by themselves after a while. Are you taking anything else? It might be a good idea to try taking something like Klonopin for the anxiety/agitation and insomnia. That's what I had to do since Parnate can definitely create insomnia. Try to keep your dose of the benzo minimal since eventually you might want to taper off it.Keep in mind that if you decide you've "had it" with Parnate, you're going to have to wait one or 2 weeks (can't remember which) before you start the Nardil. Maybe other posters who have had problems with Parnate can offer additional advice.
good luck
Posted by TapiocaMonk on June 3, 2003, at 9:04:53
In reply to Re: Parnate, posted by cubbybear on June 3, 2003, at 5:43:38
I started Parnate a few weeks ago and have just raised dose to 50mg/day. For the first 3 weeks my blood pressure was spiking and falling very uncomfortably and I was also getting extremely irritated.
more later . . . gotta run
Posted by MelD on June 3, 2003, at 17:45:27
In reply to Re: Parnate, posted by TapiocaMonk on June 3, 2003, at 9:04:53
Like cubbybear said, this is a tough judgment call for you. My problem was the opposite - i felt lousy on Nardil, but was determined to give it 6 wks. But I couldnt stand it anymore and quit after 4 weeks, waited a week and started Parnate. The washout period sucked, of course, but it was worth it. The Parnate is working well for me now and im glad i started it asap. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Posted by cosis on June 3, 2003, at 20:00:00
In reply to Parnate, posted by Questionmark on June 3, 2003, at 3:51:48
> i've been on Parnate for a month now (3 wks at 20mg). So far i am pretty disappointed as i get daily headaches (not hypertensive; er not dangerously so at least), have excessive anxiety (even more) and agitation, bad insomnia, and aggravation of my obsessive compulsive problems-- and my already poor appetite has further diminished. On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved. But it's still not at all worth it so far. i told my dr i believed i should try Nardil, but he said to wait on the Parnate another month.
> i was on 30mg for a few days but this only aggravated everything-- not good-- so raising the dose is not a good option. So, but, do you think that the effects of Parnate can still improve (after being on a month already), or is it pretty much going to be like this the whole way through? If the latter i'd much rather get on Nardil right away/ asap. Heck i liked Paxil better than this.
> Thanks for input.Nardil helped me a lot but it took 4 weeks to kick in! I had to change my diet completely to avoid the weight gain......
Posted by maxime on June 4, 2003, at 14:23:46
In reply to Parnate, posted by Questionmark on June 3, 2003, at 3:51:48
I'm sorry to hear your experience has been negative so far. I take 80 mg of Parnate and it's the best antidepressant I have ever been on - and I have been on just about everything.
It sounds like you are getting a positive response from the med - "On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved,"
To me these are really big pluses!Everytime I raised the dose I went through some of the same symptoms you are going through. But they went away with time.
I take Trazodone to help me sleep with klonopin. Also I take my second dose at 3pm and I find this helps.
Since you are getting a positive response from it maybe you should stick it out for 3 weeks or so and see what happens.
Good luck.
Max
> i've been on Parnate for a month now (3 wks at 20mg). So far i am pretty disappointed as i get daily headaches (not hypertensive; er not dangerously so at least), have excessive anxiety (even more) and agitation, bad insomnia, and aggravation of my obsessive compulsive problems-- and my already poor appetite has further diminished. On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved. But it's still not at all worth it so far. i told my dr i believed i should try Nardil, but he said to wait on the Parnate another month.
> i was on 30mg for a few days but this only aggravated everything-- not good-- so raising the dose is not a good option. So, but, do you think that the effects of Parnate can still improve (after being on a month already), or is it pretty much going to be like this the whole way through? If the latter i'd much rather get on Nardil right away/ asap. Heck i liked Paxil better than this.
> Thanks for input.
Posted by TR on June 4, 2003, at 17:40:11
In reply to Re: Parnate, posted by maxime on June 4, 2003, at 14:23:46
I agree. I also take 80 mgs of Parnate, and found it took about a month to REALLY kick in. I also take Klonipin for anxiety and Trazadone to sleep. I'd give the Parnate another two or three weeks.
> I'm sorry to hear your experience has been negative so far. I take 80 mg of Parnate and it's the best antidepressant I have ever been on - and I have been on just about everything.
>
> It sounds like you are getting a positive response from the med - "On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved,"
> To me these are really big pluses!
>
> Everytime I raised the dose I went through some of the same symptoms you are going through. But they went away with time.
>
> I take Trazodone to help me sleep with klonopin. Also I take my second dose at 3pm and I find this helps.
>
> Since you are getting a positive response from it maybe you should stick it out for 3 weeks or so and see what happens.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Max
>
> > i've been on Parnate for a month now (3 wks at 20mg). So far i am pretty disappointed as i get daily headaches (not hypertensive; er not dangerously so at least), have excessive anxiety (even more) and agitation, bad insomnia, and aggravation of my obsessive compulsive problems-- and my already poor appetite has further diminished. On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved. But it's still not at all worth it so far. i told my dr i believed i should try Nardil, but he said to wait on the Parnate another month.
> > i was on 30mg for a few days but this only aggravated everything-- not good-- so raising the dose is not a good option. So, but, do you think that the effects of Parnate can still improve (after being on a month already), or is it pretty much going to be like this the whole way through? If the latter i'd much rather get on Nardil right away/ asap. Heck i liked Paxil better than this.
> > Thanks for input.
>
>
Posted by Questionmark on June 7, 2003, at 0:29:57
In reply to Re: Parnate, posted by TR on June 4, 2003, at 17:40:11
> I agree. I also take 80 mgs of Parnate, and found it took about a month to REALLY kick in. I also take Klonipin for anxiety and Trazadone to sleep. I'd give the Parnate another two or three weeks.
>
> > I'm sorry to hear your experience has been negative so far. I take 80 mg of Parnate and it's the best antidepressant I have ever been on - and I have been on just about everything.
> >
> > It sounds like you are getting a positive response from the med - "On the plus side, my depression has somewhat decreased, i need less sleep, and my cognitive abilities have improved,"
> > To me these are really big pluses!
> >
> > Everytime I raised the dose I went through some of the same symptoms you are going through. But they went away with time.
> >
> > I take Trazodone to help me sleep with klonopin. Also I take my second dose at 3pm and I find this helps.
> >
> > Since you are getting a positive response from it maybe you should stick it out for 3 weeks or so and see what happens.
*Note: this post does not really say anything of much significance*Thank you all for your comments & input.
i don't know. i spend way too much freaking time thinking about this crap! "Uh should i do this or this, take this or this, er what about this w/ a little of this & this, or no i'll take...; no i'm just gonna quit daily meds for good; no screw that i'll try this...." It's ridiculous. i don't know what to do. Anyway..
i'm curious, do either of you, esp. maxime, TR, or Cubbybear have any OC or anxiety problems? If so, how has the Parnate affected these? See, it might sound stupid, but i don't want to just feel better (happier or less depressed or wtvr.), i want to improve my self and my sh*tty life. Like, yes i can feel the Parnate making me feel a bit better, but it's very reminiscent of stimulant-induced "feel-better-ness" (i dont wanna say euphoria cuz this is not). The unrealistic hope, the over-satisfaction in the moment while doing various unimportant activities (and the compulsiveness), the improved but *unrealistic* heightened sense of self-esteem and self-worth and uniqueness... basically the quasi-delusions of grandeur-- all the BS and lies that i cannot STAND to feel anymore. It's not a feeling of heightened self-awareness or a better ability to view yourself as you are (as it seems SSRIs can help me do before i'm on them for awhile)-- it's just INCREASED self-esteem, and it's unrealistic and BS! And it does not help me improve myself because though i feel better i'm more anxious and obsessive-c. and irritable and content with who i am at the moment, or something. AH look at me i'm rambling my *** off! i ALways ramble when i'm on a stim and writing something! Okay, sorry. But anyway...
So there's that. And then also, even if the side effects might eventually diminish, if it's not going to sufficiently help me i don't want to stay on it for another 3, 4 weeks-- cuz the longer i'm on it (or any drug) and the more i allow my body to adapt to it the more difficult it is going to be to discontinue (due to w/drawal-type effects).
Oh, also, i asked my dr if i could get something to help me sleep and he said no i didn't want to be taking too many pills (i agree but i don't want to be staying up all night either). i have some left-over clonazepam from before but it's running low. i've always been nocturnal but the past week i've been going to bed at like 7am.
In short (i should've just said this), the slight relief of depression is nice, but i need to improve my social life, gain weight, and change
my freaking slow-*** and procrastination causing OC problems, all of which are being hindered by the Parnate thus far. Of course, i probably have no choice (Parnate or nothing) until i see my doc next time anyway. Sorry this was so freaking long.
This is the end of the thread.
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