![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 zonked on July 21, 2011, at 8:34:54
I started Nardil around June 1st. It has helped tremendously. My social anxiety is almost completely gone, generalized anxiety has been substantially reduced. Depression has reduced substantially. I didn't get the start up hypo this time, but in a way, I'm glad. My life isn't perfect. As the depression trickles away, I've begun to face some really awful things that depression allowed me to ignore. Since I am typing this on an old fashioned cell phone, I'll just use the familiar throw bills I can afford to pay in the drawer example we're all familiar with. I can feel depression trying to claw it's way back in when I face the mess my life's become, but the difference is that I am trying to stop it in its tracks each time and the medicine allows me to do this. Nardil alone isn't going to make the life I want, but it's allowing me to get there. Some days are better than others. The thought patterns that have become second nature are taking their time to unravel, and effort from me. But I am telling you, there is NO WAY I'd be where I am now had I not started it. I have the usual side effects, particularly insomnia which is not yet mitigated entirely. Doxylamine yields a poorer quality sleep than natural sleep, but it beats the hypersomnia I had before. I wake up at the crack of dawn whether or not I like it. This time so far I've actually lost weight, makes sense because being the atypical I am, I was literally stuffing myself before it started to work. I think as I stay on it longer and continue picking up the pieces, I'll feel even better. As an aside, for whatever reason I do think the Gavis generic works better. For those of you in the US, Rite-Aid was happy to order it for me. I also take 1mg Klonopin per day. I will post more observations when I get to a regular keyboard on this thread. Thanks to all here. Phenelzine Sulfate 75mg /day (Nardil) Klonopin 1mg/day Doxylamine 25mg prn hs
Posted by SLS on July 21, 2011, at 8:38:05
In reply to Nardil progress report, posted by zonked on July 21, 2011, at 8:34:54
God bless.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on July 21, 2011, at 10:51:46
In reply to Re: Nardil progress report » zonked, posted by SLS on July 21, 2011, at 8:38:05
Zonked that is great. Will you now that you your life as you see it is not without problems work on it yourself or with help? Congrats to you. Phillipa
Posted by zonked on July 21, 2011, at 16:20:33
In reply to Nardil progress report, posted by zonked on July 21, 2011, at 8:34:54
Phew, actual computer keyboard. Much easier to post. :-)
So, yeah, it's definitely working. The way Nardil makes one feel is rather distinct; and it has been more and more consistent as I've been on it longer.
Unscientifically speaking, I think this puts me in the "responder" category, on my way to remission. I still have 15mgs to play with, if a dose increase is necessary (you can go up to 90 according to the prescribing info, perhaps more if absolutely necessary), plus more time.
As I said in the previous post, there are some thinking patterns that depression has hammered into my head, and bad habits I've acquired which, like a computer program that needs debugging, will continue to require proactive challenges on my part to fix - I am not always 100% successful at this, but it's getting easier and easier not to have a defeatist mindset (and defeatist FEELING) about everything.
My sex drive has BEGUN to return, and I hope it continues to my non-depressed baseline.
I initiate conversations with strangers on the metro. I call people more often. I am no longer afraid of my (nice) neighbors!
On the bad side: It's made me want to smoke more (up to 1pk/day now) and that is a bit pricey. My insurance will cover the 21mg patches in about a week, and as soon as they do, I will commit myself to some initial discomfort and buy a few packs of chewing gum. :-)
For the low quality sleep Nardil provides, I may ask next appointment for Temazepam. It's helped with Nardil-insomnia in the past. For now I make due with doxylamine succinate and an occasional extra Klonopin.
I am not 100% "there" yet, but well on my way. I expect in several months, I won't be thinking about my condition so much. I'll be back to living my life the way I want it.
As jedi says, Nardil is THE "bomb". I've said before - my reason for going off of it during the last remission it caused was weight gain. This time, if despite my efforts, I have to be carried around as cargo on an 18-wheeler, I don't care! Life is too prescious to worry about cosmetic things like that. And so far as I said before, I've *lost* weight..
Before starting Nardil, I was literally terrified to be alone for more than 5 minutes. And I had to be with someone close to me personally, not just anyone. I can't imagine ever having to return to that state. Constant terror, morning dread (which turned into day-long dread and nightmares)... wasn't able to enjoy anything. NOTHING.
Do antidepressants work? In my case, this particular one does. No amount of psychotherapy, yoga, vitamins, healthy diet, exercise, candlelit baths, massage would allow me to function like this. And I can say that because, med-less, and sometimes with meds that didn't work, I've tried them all. It is ONLY now that these things are able to help, and they do! (Well, the healthy diet and exercise are things I've been able to initiate now. I take a B+C complex every other day @ bedtime.)
I hope someone who reads this, some day, who's failed on SSRIs, SSNRIs, TCAs, NaSSAs, SARIs, and NDRIs mentions Nardil to his or her doctor, rather than doing ECT *first* or adding antipsychotics. Trying a MAOI is well worth your while.
THANK YOU, babble. I will continue to keep you guys updated. I know I've had some less than stellar days, but they seem to be thinning out; and I don't expect to not ever feel bad, ever; sometimes maybe even for no reason. But I expect those times to lessen in frequency, definitely.
Your fellow (recovering) depressive,
-z
Posted by floatingbridge on July 21, 2011, at 21:40:19
In reply to Re: Nardil progress report - more observations, posted by zonked on July 21, 2011, at 16:20:33
zonked, please keep us updated.
You're two months in. I think I remember mentions of about four months for some to stabilize at therapeutic doses--for the Nardil to begin steady steady work. It may not be a linear ascent to baseline, but sounds like you are a 'responder' to me. That's a security to hold on to during one of those annoying cognitive maladaptive flairs.
I am happy and relived on your behalf :-)
Continued best wishes for life going forward!
Posted by Phillipa on July 21, 2011, at 23:06:31
In reply to Re: Nardil progress report - more observations » zonked, posted by floatingbridge on July 21, 2011, at 21:40:19
Zonked congratulations you are definitely I feel on your way to recovery. Please do keep us updated. Phillipa
Posted by hyperfocus on July 26, 2011, at 0:25:44
In reply to Re: Nardil progress report - more observations, posted by zonked on July 21, 2011, at 16:20:33
I'm glad you're feeling better z. As SLS said once, recovery is not a linear process. You will have ups and downs, better and worse days. We both know how social phobia and depression can destroy a person's life. And yeah the Nardil can't change those automatic negative thoughts and behavior that come on every time you face a stressful situation.
One thing you have to do is STAY ON YOUR MEDS. I can't emphasize how important that is. You're actually quite lucky you responded again to the Nardil after discontinuing it. A lot of people who go off their meds for one reason or another can't recapture the original response because of some mysterious process that happens when you start and stop a med. Don't drop or change or adjust anything, no matter how trivial or logical it seems. It may be better to add something to counter a side-effect than reduce or adjust your current dose. You might want to record everything you're taking now including stuff like multivitamins or blood-pressure meds, so you can establish a response baseline and isolate any changes you make. Also don't assume you're better and can stop taking it after however long. If your doctor wants you to stop or switch for whatever you might be better off finding another doc.
I hope your recovery continues and I wish you the best.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.