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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by julie1977 on December 25, 2009, at 17:18:10
Hi all
I just wanted to tell you all of my success with the above combination. My depression started when I was 13, I am now 32. I didn't try treating it until I was 21 when I tried St Johns Wort, this did work for me for a few months and even made me euphoric for a short period of time. However the effects soon wore off and I was back to square one. I then went to a doctor and was prescribed Seroxat, again this worked for a short while but wasn't without its side effects - namely not 'giving a sh*t' about anything. It pooped out after a while. From the age of 22 til 30 I was prescribed various antidepressants, including: Prozac, Venlafaxine, Citalopram, Escitalopram, a tricyclic, moclobemide and various others. Some partially worked and others didn't work at all. None of them actually brought me up to a stable level. I then tried lamotrigine, which gave me big mood swings and which I had a toxic reaction to - nystagmus - involuntary movement of the eyes from side to side. I was so desperate I ordered off the internet - xanax, busiprone, provigil. I was referred to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with 'double depression', dysthymia with episodes of of major depression. After trying a few antidepressants via her she admitted defeat and discharged me whilst I was still 'dysthymic'. I went home and did some more of my own research, I read that the old MAOs have a reputation of being the 'big guns' in that they affect a number of systems causing side effects but that they are also highly effective. I also became interested in olanzapine and how it could augment antidepressants. I asked to be referred to a psychiatrist and got an appointment with the same one I had initially seen, which I wasn't too happy about. I said I was ready to try Nardil and that I would also like to try augmenting it with olanzapine. The psychiatrist said how Olanzapine comes with great weight gain (thanks for the encouragement, not!) and how nardil and olanzapine together had not been studied. I reasoned that if it works to augment an SSRI then why shouldnt' it work to augment an MAO? I went away with my prescriptions and, to sound cliched, the rest is history. For the last two years I have experienced normal mood. I am stable and balanced (my mood used to be ultraultra rapid cycling, by the hour, mostly feeling low) and I still have my feelings. I gained two stone initially, but now I am a stone and 4lbs more than my pre olanz&nardil weight, which I am relatively happy with. My libido is MUCH lower than it was, but I experienced libido problems with every mood drug I took. I have NO other side effects, which is incredible considering the list of side effects from nardil and olanzapine. I have truly found a combination which is working for me longterm, I consider any medication which works for longer than a year as being longterm, heh. Olanzapine stops constant negative ruminations, and they both work to eliminate the awful feelings I used to have - constant mood instability, feeling low most of the time, etc.
I just thought i'd share my success story with you all. Thanks for reading and any comments are welcome! Julie
Posted by bulldog2 on December 25, 2009, at 17:29:10
In reply to My Story - Olanzapine and Nardil, posted by julie1977 on December 25, 2009, at 17:18:10
> Hi all
> I just wanted to tell you all of my success with the above combination. My depression started when I was 13, I am now 32. I didn't try treating it until I was 21 when I tried St Johns Wort, this did work for me for a few months and even made me euphoric for a short period of time. However the effects soon wore off and I was back to square one. I then went to a doctor and was prescribed Seroxat, again this worked for a short while but wasn't without its side effects - namely not 'giving a sh*t' about anything. It pooped out after a while. From the age of 22 til 30 I was prescribed various antidepressants, including: Prozac, Venlafaxine, Citalopram, Escitalopram, a tricyclic, moclobemide and various others. Some partially worked and others didn't work at all. None of them actually brought me up to a stable level. I then tried lamotrigine, which gave me big mood swings and which I had a toxic reaction to - nystagmus - involuntary movement of the eyes from side to side. I was so desperate I ordered off the internet - xanax, busiprone, provigil. I was referred to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with 'double depression', dysthymia with episodes of of major depression. After trying a few antidepressants via her she admitted defeat and discharged me whilst I was still 'dysthymic'. I went home and did some more of my own research, I read that the old MAOs have a reputation of being the 'big guns' in that they affect a number of systems causing side effects but that they are also highly effective. I also became interested in olanzapine and how it could augment antidepressants. I asked to be referred to a psychiatrist and got an appointment with the same one I had initially seen, which I wasn't too happy about. I said I was ready to try Nardil and that I would also like to try augmenting it with olanzapine. The psychiatrist said how Olanzapine comes with great weight gain (thanks for the encouragement, not!) and how nardil and olanzapine together had not been studied. I reasoned that if it works to augment an SSRI then why shouldnt' it work to augment an MAO? I went away with my prescriptions and, to sound cliched, the rest is history. For the last two years I have experienced normal mood. I am stable and balanced (my mood used to be ultraultra rapid cycling, by the hour, mostly feeling low) and I still have my feelings. I gained two stone initially, but now I am a stone and 4lbs more than my pre olanz&nardil weight, which I am relatively happy with. My libido is MUCH lower than it was, but I experienced libido problems with every mood drug I took. I have NO other side effects, which is incredible considering the list of side effects from nardil and olanzapine. I have truly found a combination which is working for me longterm, I consider any medication which works for longer than a year as being longterm, heh. Olanzapine stops constant negative ruminations, and they both work to eliminate the awful feelings I used to have - constant mood instability, feeling low most of the time, etc.
> I just thought i'd share my success story with you all. Thanks for reading and any comments are welcome! Julie
Hi JulieThanks for sharing your story. You're very brave to continue to fight and try drugs with their sides until you found your panacea. I think a lot of people stop a drug even if it works because of side effects. I guess one has to balance the sides against the positive effects the drug may bring. Have you even considered parnate? Supposed to be weight neutral or even lose weight and not bad on the libido. But continued success with your regimin.
Posted by gman22 on December 25, 2009, at 18:02:03
In reply to My Story - Olanzapine and Nardil, posted by julie1977 on December 25, 2009, at 17:18:10
Julie,
Thanks for sharing. I love hearing the success stories... it gives me hope!!
Posted by Phillipa on December 25, 2009, at 18:59:00
In reply to Re: My Story - Olanzapine and Nardil, posted by gman22 on December 25, 2009, at 18:02:03
Julie yes thanks for sharing so glad you found your "magic combo" Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on December 25, 2009, at 23:28:32
In reply to My Story - Olanzapine and Nardil, posted by julie1977 on December 25, 2009, at 17:18:10
Julie, I love it! Thank you for your story. I wish you continuing remission.
When you say ultra ultra rapid cycling, is that similar to mood lability? Is (was) your dx a BP nos?
Thanks again,
fb
Posted by julie1977 on December 26, 2009, at 4:32:46
In reply to Re: My Story - Olanzapine and Nardil » julie1977, posted by floatingbridge on December 25, 2009, at 23:28:32
Hi all :-)
Thanks for your replies. I did have great mood lability but no diagnosis of Bi II. My diagnosis is/was double depression.
Re the weight gain, both nardil and olanzapine are known for it, I just feel grateful that i've only gained a stone and a half as I know some folk can piles on a number of stones.
I'm happy with my regime and wouldn't alter it until it pooped out.
I hope you all find your 'magic' med(s) as I now believe so much can be cured by the right psychotropic meds.
Julie
Posted by bleauberry on December 26, 2009, at 20:28:05
In reply to My Story - Olanzapine and Nardil, posted by julie1977 on December 25, 2009, at 17:18:10
Totally awesome! Thank you so much.
I don't recall ever hearing of Zyprexa and Nardil combined.
Now I have. :-)
And it was a happy ending, even better!
This is the end of the thread.
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