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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Tomatheus on November 8, 2005, at 17:02:45
Nardil users...
I've been taking Nardil for 5 1/2 weeks now (I've been at 60mg for a little more than two weeks), and I'm wondering what your experiences have been with various dosing schedules.
Since I went up to 60mg, I've been taking Nardil four times a day: 15mg in the morning, 15mg in the early afternoon, 15mg in the early evening, and another 15mg around bedtime. As a whole, the Nardil has provided me with some relief from my dysthymic symptoms, but like other Nardil users, I often feel quite sedated (and sometimes downright depressed) on it, especially early in the day. But it seems like I always have plenty of energy after I take my "bedtime" dose - so much so that I often experience at least some insomnia. Obviously, there's only so much point in taking a medication if I hardly feel energized during the day (when I need the energy) and feel the most energized at night.
So, I'm wondering...
In your experiences, has the sedation subsided with time? If so, to what extent (full remission of sedation or just partial)? How long did it take?
What do you take your Nardil? What dosing schedules have you tried, and which have been the most effective? Which have been the least effective? What's the best way to maximize Nardil's daytime antidepressant effect while minimizing its daytime sedating effect and its tendency to contribute to insomnia?
Thanks for reading. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tomatheus
Posted by gardenergirl on November 8, 2005, at 22:22:26
In reply to Nardil dosing schedule, posted by Tomatheus on November 8, 2005, at 17:02:45
Hi,
I don't have much sedation. Occasionally in the late afternoon/early evening I could use a nap, but this seems more related to sleep problems (long-standing) and/or bad habits more than sedation.When I started at 60 mg, I also took one tab four times a day. Now I take one in a.m., two around two p.m. and one more around ten p.m. Frankly, it was just easier to take it three times a day (since I went down to 45 mg for awhile anyway) then four. Seems like it works okay for me. No fluctuations in energy.
gg
Posted by Jedi on November 10, 2005, at 4:11:23
In reply to Nardil dosing schedule, posted by Tomatheus on November 8, 2005, at 17:02:45
> Nardil users...
>
> I've been taking Nardil for 5 1/2 weeks now (I've been at 60mg for a little more than two weeks), and I'm wondering what your experiences have been with various dosing schedules.Hi Tomatheus,
I've probably tried about every dosing schedule, including the entire dose at bedtime. I still get some afternoon somnolence. If I break down and take a nap, then I get insomnia in the evening. Give the medication longer to work if you can fight through the initial side effects. The normal effective dose is 1mg/kg of body weight. Sometimes you must be at this dosage for a full four to five weeks for Nardil to kick in.
A lot of the one or two day miracle cures you read about are actually placebo effects. We all want so much to feel better! These effects are invariably followed by a quick crash.>
> Since I went up to 60mg, I've been taking Nardil four times a day: 15mg in the morning, 15mg in the early afternoon, 15mg in the early evening, and another 15mg around bedtime. As a whole, the Nardil has provided me with some relief from my dysthymic symptoms, but like other Nardil users, I often feel quite sedated (and sometimes downright depressed) on it, especially early in the day. But it seems like I always have plenty of energy after I take my "bedtime" dose - so much so that I often experience at least some insomnia. Obviously, there's only so much point in taking a medication if I hardly feel energized during the day (when I need the energy) and feel the most energized at night.Nardil is one of the best medications for dysthymia and double depression. I do not believe you have given it enough time at a high enough dosage to work completely. The trouble with almost all psychotropic medications is you have to raise the dose slowly to avoid the major side effects; then stay at the higher dose long enough for the medication to work.
I currently take half of my 90mg dosage of Nardil when I get up, and half when I go to bed. I always feel better in the morning after a couple of cups of coffee. I'm going to try the caffeine as a mild stimulant in the early afternoon also.
Good Luck,
Jedi
Posted by Tomatheus on November 11, 2005, at 18:56:29
In reply to Nardil dosing schedule, posted by Tomatheus on November 8, 2005, at 17:02:45
gg and Jedi,
Thanks very much for your responses. It was helpful to read your experiences. I think that the biggest problem that I'm having right now is that Nardil's full antidepressant effect has yet to "kick in" (assuming that it will kick in at some point), and I'm just expecting results too soon. I think I'm just going to try hanging in there for another 3 1/2 weeks so I'll know how Nardil will really affect me at 60mg before I consider rearranging my dosing schedule.
On one hand, I do have a tendency to be somewhat inpatient with meds. But at the same time, I realize that there is a bigger picture. After all, another 3 1/2-week wait for remission (assuming that I get there) is hardly a blip on the radar screen after approximately 3 1/2 years of unsuccessful treatment.
I'll keep everyone here posted on the results of my Nardil trial.
Tomatheus
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