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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 Tom Twilight on October 10, 2005, at 17:57:26
Firstly a big hello to all my babble friends
For those who don’t know me, I suffer from Social Anxiety as well as some generalized anxiety and depression.
I live in Cambridge in the UKI normally post quite frequently, but haven’t posted a lot recently, so I just thought I’d make a report of what I’ve been up to lately
I haven’t been in a very good state for the last few weeks.
This is mainly because I’ve been suffering so severely from insomnia, as well as working hard.As a result I haven’t responded to a lot of babblemails
If I have ignored any babblemail’s I apologies, it’s nothing personal! I’ve just been to ‘out of it to respond’.I’m currently on 50mgs of Marplan; I’ve been at this dose for about a month.
It’s finally doing something to help; I didn’t get much at lower doses.The good news is that at 50mgs Marplan is finally keeping my depression at bay.
The side effects a very mild, although I should mention that I don’t usually get many side effects from meds (with the exception of Clomipramine).
The only side effects I’m experience are Anorgasmia, some weight gain and finally some sleep disturbance.The bad news it that Marplan doesn’t seem to be spectacularly effect for anxiety.
Its helping generalized anxiety, although not eliminating it the way Clomipramine did.It is helping Social Anxiety a bit, which is something, especially when so many ADs had no effect (such as Effexor, Fluoxetine e.c.t)
Unfortunately it’s not helping my SA enough :(As I mentioned I’ve been suffering nasty insomnia, which I think is partly due to Marplan, but also due to stress.
I haven’t got a doctor to help with the insomnia, which obviously isn’t helping.My current Pdoc who prescribed me the Marplan seemed quite unconcerned about the insomnia I was experiencing
Which was a bit off when MAOIs are so notorious for this side effect.
It’s because of his lack of concern that the insomnia has spiraled out of control, I think.Anyway I’m not quite sure what to do at the moment
I think I will eventually have to discontinue the Marplan; I’ll try and get to as high a dose as possible before doing this just to be sure its not going to work for my SA.I’m sure what to do about the insomnia
Getting UK docs to prescribe sleep aids with MAOIs isn’t easy, if anyone has any suggestions I’d like to hear them
Posted by tecknohed on October 11, 2005, at 5:33:27
In reply to Progress Report-Marplan-Social Anxiety-Insomia, posted by Tom Twilight on October 10, 2005, at 17:57:26
Hello Tom!
I'm happy that you're less depressed. Pitty about the social anxiety. And I know exactly what the Marplan insomnia is like.
I always go for Diphenhydramine for temporary Insomnia but its effects die with time and it can leave you grotty the next day. Good for emergencies though.
How about adding Neurontin (gabapentin) to the Marplan. I cant see why your doc wouldn't go for it. Even if you've tried it before without success, it'll probably be a whole different experience with the Marplan, and may help both insomnia and SA. I even considered this myself before scurrying back to Nardil.
And what about Picamilon? You've probably heard about it. I've ordered some so I'll tell you what its like soon. And its not too expensive either. Seems to tranquilize at low/moderate doses and stimulate at higher doses.
And there's also Lunesta (Eszopiclone). Dont know much about it but its apparently safe to take long term.
Hope you find some answers soon!
Take care,
Kev.
Posted by Declan on October 11, 2005, at 14:30:27
In reply to Progress Report-Marplan-Social Anxiety-Insomia, posted by Tom Twilight on October 10, 2005, at 17:57:26
Tom, you live in Cambridge (lucky duck) and in Cambridge there would have to be a retailer of chinese herbs. The basic recipe is called An Shen Ding Zhi Wan and in traditional chinese medicine is used for a spleen deficiency which apparently I have and which should not trouble us further. You have to adjust the dose until you're taking at least a gramme of zizyphus spinosa seed. It worked last night for me with 5mg Valium. Benign and moderately effective.
Declan
Posted by Declan on October 11, 2005, at 14:32:56
In reply to Progress Report-Marplan-Social Anxiety-Insomia, posted by Tom Twilight on October 10, 2005, at 17:57:26
Posted by ed_uk on October 11, 2005, at 15:47:13
In reply to Progress Report-Marplan-Social Anxiety-Insomia, posted by Tom Twilight on October 10, 2005, at 17:57:26
Hi Tom,
>I’m currently on 50mgs of Marplan
I thought you were. I asked you in my babblemail - don't reply to that bit ;-)
>Its helping generalized anxiety, although not eliminating it the way Clomipramine did.
Did clomipramine help your SP? If it did, was it as effective as Marplan?
>50mg
I think you need a higher dose to be honest. 60-80mg might be more effective.
>Getting UK docs to prescribe sleep aids with MAOIs isn’t easy, if anyone has any suggestions I’d like to hear them
What have you tried so far? I think you said you were taking zopiclone.
Kind regards
~Ed
Posted by Tom Twilight on October 11, 2005, at 17:44:18
In reply to Re: Progress Report-Marplan-Social Anxiety-Insomia » Tom Twilight, posted by ed_uk on October 11, 2005, at 15:47:13
Hey guys
I don't know why I didn't give this thread a snappier title to begin with
people are going to be put off reading it because its to long!Declan: Thanks for the tip about the sedative tea, I'm going to check that out.
How are you by the way?Teckno: Thanks for your suggestions
Unfortunatly Diphenhydramine doesn't have any effect on my insomnia any more.
It used to work fine, but when I had my first boute of really bad insomnia during my finals I used it so much I've developed permanent tollerance!
I'd like to try Neurotin, however I tried Pregabalin, a new drug that is supposedly a more potent version of Neurotine (ok its not quite that simple, but they are similar).
It worked great for Social Anxiety for the first few days, then pooped out permanently.Good luck with Picamilone, I've heard mixed reviews on Picamilone for anxiety.
If you want a powerfull and effect GABA supplement that helps SA, I would reccomend Phenibut.
Its a GABA ananlogue that was developed in Russia, its a drug rather than a supplement really, but its listed as a supplement.Ed: Your suggesting I need a higher dose of Marplan, I think your absolutely right.
Getting my Pdoc to agree to go above 60mgs will be difficult, I personally think I need at least 80mg.
Clomipramine was great for general anxiety, and it did help social anxiety somewhat
The side effects were so horrible that I wouldn't want to take it long term
They were worse than all the other meds I've taken put together!At the moment I'm taking Zopiclone and Mirtazapine occasionally for insomnia.
Mirtazapine doesn't seem to interact with MarplanEd, do you have any idea when Lunesta will be released in the UK?
Take care guys, I'm going to bed
Posted by ed_uk on October 12, 2005, at 14:01:09
In reply to Progress Report-Marplan, posted by Tom Twilight on October 11, 2005, at 17:44:18
Hi Tom,
>The side effects were so horrible that I wouldn't want to take it long term
What side effects did you have from clomipramine?
>Picamilone
Seemed like a placebo to me!
>Ed, do you have any idea when Lunesta will be released in the UK?
No. Anyway, I don't think it has any advantages over zopiclone to be honest. If it *was* approved in the UK, I suppose there's a chance that it might be approved for long term use, as is the case in the US. It's not any safer in the long term than zopiclone though. The only difference is that your doc might be more likely to prescribe it. On the other had, it will probably be quite expensive so I'm sure the 'pharmaceutical advisers' will be breathing down the GPs necks telling them not to prescribe it.
~ed
Posted by bigcat on October 16, 2005, at 21:58:03
In reply to Progress Report-Marplan-Social Anxiety-Insomia, posted by Tom Twilight on October 10, 2005, at 17:57:26
Tom- I think I may have mentioned to you before that I took the Marplan quite a bit higher. I dosed it like Nardil, and was up to 90mgs, but at that point I'd increase the dose, feel better for a couple days and then go flat. I was on Seroquel for sleep. It's been a great sleep med for me- I've taken it with all my AD'S, including the MAOI'S without trouble. Sometimes I had to go high (800mg's), but eventually I'd fall asleep and it is still very reliable and doesn't really hang you over that long. But I don't know if increasing the Marplan is the answer, as when it faded on me, even the higher doses didn't bring any lasting relief. It worked best for me at the dose you're at for a couple months before fading.
This is the end of the thread.
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