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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jlbl2l on January 10, 2004, at 16:58:23
Hey,
It was my 2-3rd day on nardil at 45mgs a day, i maintained a VERY strict diet, and i started to get zombified out. then i started after i ate fritos and rice cakes (perfectly safe tyramine freee!!!!) i entered into a convlusion type nature a hour later, many twitches uncontrollable all over my body, it was so scary. Luckily i had klonopins , and these stopped it. I thought i was having a hypertensive crisis, my blood pressure was raised, but not like over 160/110 so it could be from the convulsions or severe tremor effect i experienced. anyways i stopped the nardil for a few days cause i got so scared, then decided last night to start it up again this time at 30 mg a day and work up. my problem and this is my main problem is that i get this very "werid" sensation in the back of my head, like slight pressure or fluidy feeling, not really a heache per-say, but more like a dull head zap or head jiggle, very noticable when im trying to sleep or lay down, but sometimes it progresses into a dull ache. did anyone ever get this on nardil, in the back of there head, a werid feeling? this concerns me a lot, still there at 30 mg. it feels like the back of my head has fluid moving around or jiggling there and sometimes it sorta hurts, but not entirely, and also it doesnt always reflect a high blood pressure reading....
jlb
Posted by jlbl2l on January 10, 2004, at 17:03:44
In reply to Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 10, 2004, at 16:58:23
better description of this "twitching & having this crawling, pressure feeling in back of head "
blood pressure only slightly elevated. doesnt correspond with intake of food either.
Posted by brussell on January 10, 2004, at 17:44:29
In reply to Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 10, 2004, at 16:58:23
Hi!
I take Parnate, but haven't taken Nardil. AD's can have weird effects like what you describe.
Muscle twitching and spasms are listed as a common side effect in the literature. You might want to discuss this with your doctor.
Nardil might not be a good match for you. If you want to give it a further trial I suggest going to 15mg/day and see if the side effects go away, and then go up slowly from there.
If the side effects of the Nardil don't go away, be sure to try Parnate (after waiting 10 days after discontinuing the Nardil).
One other thing: Nardil can cause withdrawl symptoms, so taper off if you stop at a higher dosage.
Good Luck!
Posted by Jasmine on January 10, 2004, at 17:54:47
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 10, 2004, at 17:03:44
I've been on 45mg of Nardil for about 5 weeks and I too get the twitching. It usually happens as I'm falling asleep or when I'm really tired. From what I understand, it's just one of those weird side effects that can happen. It really doesn't bother me too much anymore. My boyfriend has been on Nardil for 2 years and he's even twitchier than I am. I suppose it's more annoying than anything.
As far as the weird feeling in your head, although I'm not quite sure what you're talking about, I sometimes get a weird feeling like a tingling sensation that feels like the hairs are standing up on the back of my head. Again, from what my doctor says, it's just another side effect.
If these things are really bothering you, I suggest starting lower dosage and slowly working up. Hope this helps a bit.
Jasmine @>-->--
Posted by ace on January 11, 2004, at 0:13:42
In reply to Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 10, 2004, at 16:58:23
Hi, do you think what you suffered from could have been an anxiety attack, not the Nardil.
But remember Nardil can make anxiety (and depression) a little worse before helping it.
Also remeber most s/effects where off with time.
Ace.
Posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:05:25
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help! » jlbl2l, posted by ace on January 11, 2004, at 0:13:42
its defintely not an anxiety attack....the "slight headache" in the back of my head is always there, when i stopped it, it went away. im being 100% safe diet , so i couldnt be that. its just a trasient headache, and then that tremor attack was awful! at 30mg i havent had the tremor attack yet, but the headache is constant, but dull. blood pressure is high-normal range..
Posted by ace on January 11, 2004, at 3:13:47
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:05:25
> its defintely not an anxiety attack....the "slight headache" in the back of my head is always there, when i stopped it, it went away.
OK, this indicates a rise in blood pressure. The occipital headache (back of head) is characteristic oof this. Do you experience diaphoresis (sweating) or tachycardia (raised heart beart). If so, I think you are sensitive to the BP effects of Nardil.
im being 100% safe diet , so i couldnt be that. its just a trasient headache, and then that tremor attack was awful! at 30mg i havent had the tremor attack yet, but the headache is constant, but dull. blood pressure is high-normal range..
I would recommend you start gain at 15mg, and raise VERY slowly. Although there maybe some anxiety mixed in here with your physical complaints, I believe that you are suffering very mini hypertensive reactions.
Ace.
Posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:27:08
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help! » jlbl2l, posted by ace on January 11, 2004, at 3:13:47
grrr i hope i am not sensitive, but fear i am. anyone else experience headaches (back of head) pressure like when on nardil? im only at 30 mg. my blood pressure rise is not thatmuch though so i shouldnt be feeling these headaches...i just took my morning dose of nardil and lo and behold headache (pressure headache, or creepy crawly headache) in back of head, center back of head, very uncomfortable. i didnt eat anything... checking blood pressure now..
146/97 Pulse : 46yow my head hurts!
this sucks why am i sensitive to nardil?!?!?
Posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:29:59
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:27:08
ps...no sweating....i dont notice my heart beating any faster. only side effect is this werid "headache" its more like a head tingle, or burn, or jiggle, or pressure in the back of my head. its not severe, but its quite disturbing.
Posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:37:17
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:29:59
blood pressure reading : 10 min later :
121/80
pulse :52headache, still very present. now 121/80 is normal blood pressure. like i said, it doesnt seem to always correspond with blood pressure. could a blood vessel in my brain be weak or something? ack!
Posted by ace on January 11, 2004, at 3:44:37
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help!, posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 3:29:59
> ps...no sweating....i dont notice my heart beating any faster. only side effect is this werid "headache" its more like a head tingle, or burn, or jiggle, or pressure in the back of my head. its not severe, but its quite disturbing.
It is not severe means that you are preety safe. I'm just worried that you will have to put up with this disturbing feeling for too long. Try 7.5mg and see how you do.
We will try and find a way, but, from the info i have gleaned from you, it seems as if you are sensitive to Nardil's blood pressure effects. That could mean a very strict adherence to the diet. But it could also fade.
Give it time and start low.
Keep me up to date...I'll do some research on this ASAP.
Ace.
Posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 4:11:27
In reply to Re: Nardil problems - help! » jlbl2l, posted by ace on January 11, 2004, at 3:44:37
The headache is just to scary and possibly dangerous. although my blood pressure is pretty normal, and my diet very tight,i must be sensitive to nardil cause im expericing quite a but of occupital headache pain at the moment. i think i am going to have to stop the nardil immdiately. i tried lowering the dosage, still the headache is there. i believe i just cant tolerate nardil, which is so unfortunate. its for social phobia mostly. ive tried klonopin but it is too sedating, dont like benzos for the most part.
my next option is going to be zoloft + provigil
i also have tried amineptine with some results, paxil makes me so zombified, provigil works well, but can give me ticks and also keeps me very awake (at 100mg). klonopin and benzos dont work that well to "functionally socialize" i was on klonopin for year before this, its just too depressing and sedating, and didnt make me "want" to socialize. provigil does however, so does amnineptine. ive heard zoloft is the best SSRI out of all of them for social phobia. suggestions
Posted by brussell on January 11, 2004, at 9:44:21
In reply to social phobia/ zoloft / provigil / amineptine?, posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 4:11:27
I think you're right to stop the Nardil. Parnate is very different, and might be worth a try, but be sure to start with a tiny dose (like half a tablet) since it has more of a reputation for "spontaneous" hypertensive effects.
(However my BP dropped twenty points when I started taking it--no one can predict the effect of these drugs!)
Posted by gardenergirl on January 11, 2004, at 10:42:32
In reply to Nardil, posted by brussell on January 11, 2004, at 9:44:21
It looks like you've been getting good responses from the others, but I'll throw my two cents in. According to a database I use on my Palm (ePocrates) the following are potential adverse reactions to Nardil (I've put a star next to the ones which affect me at least occasionally at 45mg)
Serious:
hypertensive crisis
hypermetabolic syndrome
intracranial hemorrhage
hypomania
respiratory depression
CNS depression
leukopenia
coma
seizures
lupus-like syndromeCommon reactions:
dizziness
headache
drowsiness*
insomnia*
weakness
tremor
constipation*
dry mouth
dyspepsia
elevated LFT's
weight gain*
orthostatic hypotension* (at beginning, went away almost immediately)
edema*
impotence
muscle twitching
myoclonic jerks* (like Jess, when I am trying to get to sleep)
hyperreflexia*
nystagmus
urinary retention* (very mild)Anyway, what you described could be the headache or you may have had a seizure (the convulsions you described). Given the serious nature of some of these effects, and your apparent sensitivity to it, I would advise consulting with your doctor. Hopefully the two of you can develop a plan which will meet your needs for symptom relief without serious side effects.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out for you.
g
Posted by ann72 on January 12, 2004, at 14:36:54
In reply to social phobia/ zoloft / provigil / amineptine?, posted by jlbl2l on January 11, 2004, at 4:11:27
Hello, I have sp also. I took paxil about 5 yrs ago, it was great w/ the anxiety, but the side effects were hell. had to stop. now, in the last 2 years my pdocs have just given xanax. and that really doesnt work for social phobia- like you said with the klonopin, it just makes you too tired to want to do anything. I am wondering if I am completly mis-diagnosed. Maybe I have BP2 and the symptoms are causing the anxiety ----
Also, what exactly is the drug= provigil--- I was just on zoloft and it didnt work at all. now I'm trying effexor..but i dont think that is working either...
good luck,
Ann
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