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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jms600 on May 19, 2011, at 15:58:45
Well, after trying all the SSRIs, SNRIs, some TCAs, anxiolytics and antipsychotics without success, for my depression, severe GAD and panic disorder, I now want to try and persuade my doctor to prescribe Nardil. Trouble is, I'm scared of trying it.
Can anyone tell me what the most common side effects are of the drug, and if they can be treated with anything?? I've heard insomnia is common - which is something I really would struggle to cope with as I'm one of those people who really suffers if I have just one poor night's sleep.
Thanks
Posted by WAS on May 19, 2011, at 21:22:47
In reply to What are he most common side effects of Nardil??, posted by jms600 on May 19, 2011, at 15:58:45
> Well, after trying all the SSRIs, SNRIs, some TCAs, anxiolytics and antipsychotics without success, for my depression, severe GAD and panic disorder, I now want to try and persuade my doctor to prescribe Nardil. Trouble is, I'm scared of trying it.
>
> Can anyone tell me what the most common side effects are of the drug, and if they can be treated with anything?? I've heard insomnia is common - which is something I really would struggle to cope with as I'm one of those people who really suffers if I have just one poor night's sleep.
>
> Thanks
>
The FDA site (http://www.drugs.com/pro/nardil.html) lists "sleep disturbances" (both insomnia and hypersomnia, presumably not at the same time) as a common side effect of Nardil. I think it's a common side effect of all of the MAOIs, but there may be some that are relatively better than others. I know that insomnia and "sudden severe somnolence syndrome" can plague some people on Parnate, but in my experience they both get better over time, even if they have not gone away completely. For other common side effects, check out the FDA website or do a search for Nardil side effects.WAS
Posted by viper1431 on May 20, 2011, at 3:56:07
In reply to What are he most common side effects of Nardil??, posted by jms600 on May 19, 2011, at 15:58:45
For me the most insane insomnia of all time.. except in the afteroons when it made me sleepy.
It also caused blood pressue drops and i would faint a lot.A lot of people here complain about it causing weight gain.
Posted by viper1431 on May 20, 2011, at 3:56:45
In reply to What are he most common side effects of Nardil??, posted by jms600 on May 19, 2011, at 15:58:45
oh and sexual dysfunation a million times worse than any other anti-despressant.
Posted by jedi on May 23, 2011, at 1:38:21
In reply to What are he most common side effects of Nardil??, posted by jms600 on May 19, 2011, at 15:58:45
> Well, after trying all the SSRIs, SNRIs, some TCAs, anxiolytics and antipsychotics without success, for my depression, severe GAD and panic disorder, I now want to try and persuade my doctor to prescribe Nardil. Trouble is, I'm scared of trying it.
>
> Can anyone tell me what the most common side effects are of the drug, and if they can be treated with anything?? I've heard insomnia is common - which is something I really would struggle to cope with as I'm one of those people who really suffers if I have just one poor night's sleep.
>
> ThanksI've been on Nardil for over a decade and many of the side effects go away over time and are dose related. When I first started Nardil, it took at least 90mg to knock out my treatment resistant atypical depression and social anxiety. Currently I am well controlled at 60mg daily and .5mg clonazepam(down from long term use of 2mg or more).
I believe that insomnia is a side effect that will always have to be treated when using Nardil. Lucky for me, I am very sensitive to the histamine medications and 50mg of Benadryl along with the .5mg of clonazepam pretty much handles my insomnia. The afternoon tiredness is a side effect that stuck with me for years, is somewhat dose related, and is no longer a problem after long term use.
Delay of orgasm is entirely dose related for me. At 60mg it is not a problem. At higher doses, orgasm is delayed or impossible. Remember, everyone is different.
The weight gain and carbohydrate cravings were a big problem for me. I'm a carb addict anyway. I initially gained over 100 pounds in just the first few years on Nardil. Ironically, one of the major symptoms of atypical depression is overeating. So for me, the Nardil compounded the problem of my disease. I have taken off more than half the weight I initially gained through exercise and a low carb diet. I think if I would have discovered low carb before the weight gain, it would have not been so extreme. By restricting carbohydrates my craving for them goes way down. I hate the diet, can't always stay on it, but it does work for us Nardil carb addicts.
My blood pressure has always been borderline high. Nardil reduces my normal systolic and diastolic about 20 points. I do have some orthostatic hypotension, but since my BP runs a little high, I don't normally get the dizziness or fainting experienced by some people. Nardil has actually kept me off blood pressure medicine. I'm the only one in my extended family that is not taking beta blockers, diuretics or some other medication to control BP.
Nardil will lower vitamin B6, so I supplement this. Don't take too much as this can cause peripheral neuropathy.
I do have some memory loss after years on Nardil and clonazepam. I blame most of this on the benzodiazapine, but some is the depression and some is just aging. Some things I remember just fine but some things just go in one ear and out the other. I have some problem with word recall and just forget remembering names without deliberate concentration.
I sure don't have the motivation I had before 13 years of fighting major atypical depression. I think this is mostly a learned response from depression. When you feel really bad and can hardly get out of bed, it is really easy to procrastinate. I say to myself, I will feel better tomorrow or next week and get this thing done then. Over the years this response can become a habit and will take some behavioral therapy or a huge force of will to overcome. I look back to what I accomplished on a daily basis before the major depression hit. There is no comparison between then and now.
Just some of my experiences with the side effects of Nardil and atypical depression. Remember, we are all different.
Please take note. Nardil is the BOMB. I have been on over 45 different combinations of medication for my illness. This is the only thing that worked. It took over a month, but when it kicked in, it was like flipping a switch. I believe Nardil is still the gold standard for treatment resistant atypical depression. When all else fails this MAOI will often work!
Be Well,
Jedi
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