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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Enigma on July 15, 2005, at 12:35:10
Long story short part:
I have severe depression. Worst of it being the last 2 years (I'm 36) - Been suicidal once (though I think about it all the time)
I'm on short term medical leave for the 2nd time in a year.
I'm hanging onto my job by a thread.
Tried about 20+ other anti-depressants over 3 years, and other drugs that had no real control on the depression.Finally tried Parnate, an MAOI, for 2 months, until I couldn't stand the side effects anymore.
First of all, if I took it at night, I'd get short of breath (tight chest), and *severe* insomnia, the entire night, sleeping in 30 min to 1 hour chuncks. I'd also have to get up to go to the bathroom every hour or so, and then have to get a drink. I would have severe night sweats and even my dreams were effected. I would actually be "stuck" having the same dream till morning. It was horrible as well as bizarre.
If I took it during the day (or even the day after taking it at night), I'd be dizzy, or light headed all day. Felt like a buzz from alcohol, but in this case, it didn't feel good. It was annoying beyond words. It even effected my judgement.. like forgetting to open the garage door before backing your car out, stuff like that. Anger and rage started to grow from lack of getting a good nights sleep. Fatigue was bad as well.
Parnate was the only drug I can remember that minimized my depression, so I forced myself to keep taking it, even though it was "killing me" to do so.
Now what am I going to do? I've tried "everything" else. My short term disability ends in 3 weeks, and I know there's NO way I'll be ready to go back to work by then.
If I go on long term disability, I take a large pay cut, and lose several other benefits from work. Also, after a month of long term, but job will no longer be held open. So, good bye job.Worse yet, I'm a software engineer and I make around 80k a year. I'm afraid that with the depression that I'll never be able to be successful as a software engineer at any other company, assuming of course I can even get another software job with NO positive references from my previous job (been there an amazing 3.5 years)
My wife and I are talking about selling the house, our dream house, and buying a much smaller place so that our cost of living will go down. I want this option like I want to drill a hole in my head.
Why won't any depression medications work for me? Why are the side effects almost as bad or worse that the depression itself?
Am I really going to have to sell my house take a job that my depression won't effect as bad? (like a janitor)
My $!^%@&^#$! life is falling apart.I've even had thoughts of becoming a criminal in order to sustain my current way of life. Can you believe that? I have 3 kids to worry about besides a wife.
Ok, just ramblings now. I'm damn hopeless. I've pretty much given up on meds as a solution to my depression. I hope NO hope left.
Posted by mworkman on July 15, 2005, at 13:13:38
In reply to Parnate - too many side effects for me - now what?, posted by Enigma on July 15, 2005, at 12:35:10
You could try nardil. It works the same way as parnate, but it is a little different and could have less side effects for you.
Posted by Ron Hill on July 15, 2005, at 15:16:55
In reply to Parnate - too many side effects for me - now what?, posted by Enigma on July 15, 2005, at 12:35:10
Enigma,
Sorry for your situation. A lot of us on PB have been there and you're right; it's NO fun.
However, you can win this battle! You're smart, so use your brain and do your homework! There is an answer out there for you. You just need to use your intellect and your tenacity to find it (no matter how long it takes).
What's your dx, what other meds have you tried, and what effects did the previous meds have (positive and negative)? How many years have you struggled with depression and was there a life event that triggered its onset? Finally, do you ever cycle into a hypomanic state?
-- Ron
BP II and OCPD
600 mg/day Lithobid
900 mg/day Trileptal
50 mg/day Lamictal
2.5 mg/day Selegiline <brand name Deprenyl> (as tx for atypical depression)
Posted by linkadge on July 15, 2005, at 16:35:42
In reply to Re: Parnate - too many side effects for me - now what? » Enigma, posted by Ron Hill on July 15, 2005, at 15:16:55
Go on a sedating TCA, remeron, or trazedone, to at least get some sleep back.
Linkadge
Posted by Declan on July 15, 2005, at 22:00:26
In reply to Re: Parnate - too many side effects for me - now what?, posted by linkadge on July 15, 2005, at 16:35:42
Hi, here's my 2 bob's worth....
I'm on Parnate 10mg/d on awakening. Even at this dose my sleep is made a little worse. I'm 52 and sleep has been a problem anyway for 15 years or so. However it's a definately noticeable AD effect for me. Whether it's exactly what I need I dunno, but I'm not too choosy, the basic effect is pleasant and the side effects are minimal.....only the sleep thing.
Since Parnate has had a positive effect on your depression I would not give it up. But you must be able to sleep. So you take something for that, I dunno what but someone here will. And you deal with the hypotensive thing by splitting your dose, if you don't do that already. So you only take 1 tablet at a time. And as early in the day as you can, I guess. And then you lower the Parnate dose until the side effects become more tolerable or the depression intolerable.
Jochen here had no trouble sleeping on 160mg/d, but someone else couldn't sleep properly on 5mg/d.
How much Parnate do you take?
Declan
This is the end of the thread.
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