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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mantus on April 27, 2011, at 20:35:39
Hello,
I am again writing in regards of what seems to be a never ending amount of side effects to Nardil. I was originally on 60mg, but did not have enough therapeutic effect. Went to 75mg and felt better, but could not sleep and orthostatic hypotension became bad. Went back down to 60mg, some side effects got better (slept better) but the orthostatic hypotension and general high pulse rate while standing at any time still remained. Stayed on 60mg for about a month and a half and went back up to 75mg. Now I tend to sleep better, but I don't feel nearly as well as I did on 75mg the first time with no sleep. Now I am very tired during the days, which blows my mind. I know other people have talked about such experiences too. How long did it take for the tiredness to go away during the day? How long and what dosage were you on before you felt normal without continually fighting other variables outside of anxiety/depression? Any suggestions on going up to 90 or back to 60 after maybe another several weeks on 75mg? I'm afraid what my bp and hr will do on 90mg and that maybe my insomnia will come back, but I could put up with it for awhile to feel like I did for the few weeks I was first on 75. My psychiatrist does not want to give me anything for my continual bp and hr issues, and I don't really want anything either, but I need to know it is going to go away at some point.
Thanks,
Landon
Posted by jedi on April 28, 2011, at 1:07:58
In reply to Nardil and Side effects, posted by mantus on April 27, 2011, at 20:35:39
Landon,
I honestly can't remember how long it took, it was many years ago, but the afternoon tiredness is a side effect of Nardil that does go away. When I first used Nardil at high doses of 90mg, the afternoon tiredness was almost unbearable. Then the inevitable 2 hour Nardil nap added to my insomnia in the evening, a vicious circle.My best side effect free dosage is 60mg. When my atypical depression or social anxiety gets worse, I will kick up to 75mg for a while. This always seems to get me over the hump now. In the past I was on dosages of mostly 90mg, up to 105 and even 120 for a while. On the higher dosages the long standing side effects of insomnia and delayed or absent orgasm are much more prevalent for me. I have not seen anyone that takes high dosage Nardil where insomnia is not a battle of some kind. Lucky for me, I am very sensitive to the histamine medications so usually Benadryl is enough to knock me out. I've also used very low dose Seroquel and Trazodone at 100mg to fight the insomnia. Both of these leave me a little too drugged for my liking with some residual morning hangover.
Even though I have the orthostatic hypotension, my BP runs borderline high, and I do not notice any dizziness while standing up quickly. Nardil actually lowers my normal BP about 20 points systolic and diastolic, which has kept me off of blood pressure medication. I am the only one in my extended family not on beta blockers and diuretics for hypertension. I do remember some dizziness from orthostatic hypotension when I first started Nardil, this was short lived for me.
Many of the side effects do get better, especially when you can stabilize at a lower dosage. If the Nardil is holding back your major depression, then try to ride out the side effects. This is one medication that can work for the long term. I have been on it for over a decade. Every time I have come off of it for more than a couple of months, my major depression has returned. I have seen posts from people that have been on Nardil for several decades. Not too many other psychotropic medications can boast that kind of long term efficacy for treatment resistant depression.
Be Well,
Jedi> Hello,
>
> I am again writing in regards of what seems to be a never ending amount of side effects to Nardil. I was originally on 60mg, but did not have enough therapeutic effect. Went to 75mg and felt better, but could not sleep and orthostatic hypotension became bad. Went back down to 60mg, some side effects got better (slept better) but the orthostatic hypotension and general high pulse rate while standing at any time still remained. Stayed on 60mg for about a month and a half and went back up to 75mg. Now I tend to sleep better, but I don't feel nearly as well as I did on 75mg the first time with no sleep. Now I am very tired during the days, which blows my mind. I know other people have talked about such experiences too. How long did it take for the tiredness to go away during the day? How long and what dosage were you on before you felt normal without continually fighting other variables outside of anxiety/depression? Any suggestions on going up to 90 or back to 60 after maybe another several weeks on 75mg? I'm afraid what my bp and hr will do on 90mg and that maybe my insomnia will come back, but I could put up with it for awhile to feel like I did for the few weeks I was first on 75. My psychiatrist does not want to give me anything for my continual bp and hr issues, and I don't really want anything either, but I need to know it is going to go away at some point.
>
> Thanks,
> Landon
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on May 4, 2011, at 6:14:14
In reply to Re: Nardil and Side effects » mantus, posted by jedi on April 28, 2011, at 1:07:58
For the low BP, Florinef is the usual treatment, 0.1mg each morning..... it causes the rentention of salt and fluid and thus helps boost the BP back to normal.
For the insomnia, a mild sedative at bedtime would help, a benzo like temazepam or one of the z-drugs, take your pick realy. The tiredness i think you just haqve to wait till it passes off.
Have you tried trancyclopromine (Parnate) - this is an MAOI, but has fewer side effects than nardil, and is stimulating rather than sedating
Posted by desolationrower on May 5, 2011, at 17:51:57
In reply to Nardil and Side effects, posted by mantus on April 27, 2011, at 20:35:39
When i took tranylcypromine, the side effects resolved for the most part within a month
-d/r
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