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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 Newly on August 10, 2008, at 23:06:24
Hi, longtime reader, first time poster. Part of the reason I felt comfortable trying Nardil for social anxiety and chronic low-grade atypical depression (dysthmia) was because of the posters on this site, so I wanted to post my own experiences as well.
Have been on this med for ~12 weeks now. Started at 45 mg for 4 weeks with now results but no side effects either. Then went up to 60 mg and within about 4 days started feeling unexpectedly better with the social anxiety. For the first time in my adult life I was able to make eye contact, say hi and smile at people. Not being able to make eye contact was a HUGE issue for me so this seemed like a small miracle. However, within 4-5 days I also started to experience dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, daytime tiredness, and constipation. I would wake up several times a night and would get so dizzy and disoriented that I'd fall several times trying to walk to the bathroom. If I stood up too suddenly I could not see or hear and would need to sit down immediately for fear of passing out. Fell and hit my head twice---once in parking lot of my office walking into work. All of this was probably due to BP being too low. Woke up one morning with blood pressure of 60/40 mmHg---my normal BP is usually ~100/60, so that drop would explain the dizziness and blackouts.
Insomina was also a huge problem.
Then, after experiencing these problems for about 2 weeks, based on a Dr's advice, I changed my meds schedule from taking the medication in the morning, noon, and night, to splitting the meds between morning (around 8 am) and midday (around 3 pm) only. Within about 3 to 4 days my insomnia and orthostatic hypotension were completely gone!! Within another 1 week (with help of gatoraid and a daily motrin) daytime dizziness was gone too. This was a realy big improvement and I still felt the beneficial effects for the most part. So, if anyone else is suffering with the insomnia/orthorstatic hypotension side effect, you might want to give this a try and it might help.I have been on 60 mg for about 8 weeks now. I still have problems with constipation and daytime tiredness but not as bad as I initially did (prunes help a little with easing constipation and coffee for tiredness).
The biggest problem now is that over the past 5 weeks I have gained considerable weight, which is apparenly also a common side effect. I've gained 15 pounds, from 122 lbs to 137 lbs in 5 weeks! My weight usually Never fluctuates, no matter how much I eat or don't eat, I used to never gain or loss more than maybe 2 lbs...
So far Nardil has been pretty helpful, helping about 40% with social anxiety and depression while no other drug has...but it hasn't been the wonder drug that it seems to be for some many others. I still struggle alot with SA and there are several days at a time I still get really depressed and discouraged.
Not really sure what to do now...I originally thought maybe going up to 75 mg would help, but now with all this weight gain I'm really scared to go up or even stay on the med at all...
don't know what to do. HAs anyone else had problem with weight gain like this? Did going up in med strenght make it worse? I'm hoping revamping my exercise routine will be enough to loose the weight, then maybe try to increase dose??
Posted by UGottaHaveHOPE on August 10, 2008, at 23:45:52
In reply to Nardil insomnia, hypotension help + weight gain Q, posted by Newly on August 10, 2008, at 23:06:24
Based on the many Nardil experiences that you will read about on here ... all of those side effects, thats good news because it usually means that Nardil is working. With many ppl, many of the side effects lessen over time, but some of them may not.
For example, you may have to deal with weight gain. If so, you will have to make the decision on whether or not Nardil is making you feel good enough versus gaining the weight. Is it?
Now there are drugs that your pdoc can augment w/Nardil to affect your weight gain, to either neutralize your hunger pains or sped up your metabolism. I am not well-versed on that topic, but others on this board are. Then again, when you add other meds, you always risk altering the affect of Nardil.
Just continue posting as much as possible, in as many details as possible, and others will provide great insight.
Posted by blueboy on August 11, 2008, at 8:16:05
In reply to Re: That's good news!!! » Newly, posted by UGottaHaveHOPE on August 10, 2008, at 23:45:52
Yeah, the weight gain is very hard to fight. One thing that helped me some was cutting out all sweets and refined carbohydrates.
For me, since I had tried so many drugs without getting any relief, the weight gain was worth it -- and that's saying a lot.
Posted by Phillipa on August 11, 2008, at 12:53:57
In reply to Re: That's good news!!!, posted by blueboy on August 11, 2008, at 8:16:05
Newly and welcome to babble as you are new so much informative info here. Again welcome. Phillipa
Posted by Newly on August 11, 2008, at 23:59:26
In reply to Re: That's good news!!!, posted by blueboy on August 11, 2008, at 8:16:05
Thanks so much for your messages! Blueboy, were you able to loose any weight while on Nardil? I feel like I haven't really changed any of my eating habits and yet the gain is still there...even if I am eating no additional sweets/carbs... Don't know where it is coming fromm. Does anyone know if the typical Nardil weight gain is related to water retention? or maybe a change in metabolism? I can't think of how to cut the weigth, so far even excercise is helping, because I'm still gaining... Weird and a little scary to see the scale creap up so fast with little reason I can identify... can't think of a solution but to stop Nardil but I REALLY don't want to do that...
HAs anyone gained and then managed to loose weight on Nardil? How did you do it? I've already tried cutting all sweets/refined carbs (very hard but did it) and am excersing regularly just as always... thanks for any advice you might have!
Posted by UGottaHaveHOPE on August 12, 2008, at 0:23:45
In reply to Re: Nardil and Weight Gain, posted by Newly on August 11, 2008, at 23:59:26
I would ask your doctor to recommend an over-the-counter med that will quell your hunger pains.
Posted by blueboy on August 13, 2008, at 11:36:21
In reply to Re: Nardil and Weight Gain, posted by Newly on August 11, 2008, at 23:59:26
> Thanks so much for your messages! Blueboy, were you able to loose any weight while on Nardil?
No, I was never able to lose any of the weight until I stopped taking it. YMMV.
Posted by dcruik518 on August 14, 2008, at 15:23:10
In reply to Re: Nardil and Weight Gain, posted by Newly on August 11, 2008, at 23:59:26
The only way to lose the Nardil weight for me was to switch to stimulants after I got off the Nardil. IT's not generally recommended to take stimulants while on Nardil, but some doctors are willing to do it. I tried it once and it seemed to stop the weight gain but didn't help me lose any weight.
This is the end of the thread.
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