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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 13, 2006, at 4:42:18
I have been challenged by anxiety for nine years. I am currently taking 25mg Seroquel and 2mg of Klonopin and actually doing OK.
I've been told that Nardil would be a good thing for me to try. Then that person said Imipramine might be better to try first bec it is "not as strong as Nardil, but similiar without the same restrictions."
Opinions? Experiences?
Posted by SLS on August 13, 2006, at 6:20:42
In reply to What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 13, 2006, at 4:42:18
> I have been challenged by anxiety for nine years. I am currently taking 25mg Seroquel and 2mg of Klonopin and actually doing OK.
>
> I've been told that Nardil would be a good thing for me to try. Then that person said Imipramine might be better to try first bec it is "not as strong as Nardil, but similiar without the same restrictions."I disagree with this characterization of the two drugs. They are very different and tend to be best suited for different kinds of depression and anxiety disorders. Actually, imipramine is not generally effective for treating anxiety disorders. Nardil is. Imipramine is better at treating endogenous, agitated, or melancholic depression with undereating, insomnia, and morning worsenings. Nardil is better at treating atypical depression with low energy, overeating, oversleeping, and heavy limbs (leaden paralysis). Nardil, unlike imipramine, will also treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Imipramine is a powerful drug, and the gold standard for certain kinds of depression. However, Nardil might be the drug that best suites your needs.
- Scott
Posted by Squiggles on August 13, 2006, at 8:44:52
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine, posted by SLS on August 13, 2006, at 6:20:42
...
Actually, imipramine is not generally effective for treating anxiety disorders. Nardil is. Imipramine is better at treating endogenous, agitated, or melancholic depression with undereating, insomnia, and morning worsenings. Nardil is better at treating atypical depression with low energy, overeating, oversleeping, and heavy limbs (leaden paralysis). Nardil, unlike imipramine, will also treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).> - Scott
You're right about imipramine causing
anxiety - a benzo was what I recommended after
years of insomnia and anxiety which were
side effects of imipramine. Imipramine is
necessary for clinical sledge-hammer depression
but has many unpleasant side effects.I wonder if Nardil is comparable in strength
to imipramine; with the added anxiolytic
properties, it would be great.tx
(not my case - i'm the Lithium poster girl) :-)
Squiggles
Posted by Crazy Horse on August 13, 2006, at 10:35:52
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine, posted by SLS on August 13, 2006, at 6:20:42
> > I have been challenged by anxiety for nine years. I am currently taking 25mg Seroquel and 2mg of Klonopin and actually doing OK.
> >
> > I've been told that Nardil would be a good thing for me to try. Then that person said Imipramine might be better to try first bec it is "not as strong as Nardil, but similiar without the same restrictions."
>
> I disagree with this characterization of the two drugs. They are very different and tend to be best suited for different kinds of depression and anxiety disorders. Actually, imipramine is not generally effective for treating anxiety disorders. Nardil is. Imipramine is better at treating endogenous, agitated, or melancholic depression with undereating, insomnia, and morning worsenings. Nardil is better at treating atypical depression with low energy, overeating, oversleeping, and heavy limbs (leaden paralysis). Nardil, unlike imipramine, will also treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
>
> Imipramine is a powerful drug, and the gold standard for certain kinds of depression. However, Nardil might be the drug that best suites your needs.
>
>
> - ScottPersonally, being on both (imipramine for 5 good years) Nardil for about 2-3 months, the drugs are Not similar at all. Imipramine is very effective for Major depression, Panic attacks ans helps some with anxiety. The biggest side effect i had with it was chronic dry mouth. Nardil is much more powerful! Good for atypical depression, anxiety, ocd, agoraphobia and social phobia. I could really FEEL nardil working, where as imipramine is more subtle. The big probem with Nardil (and why i went off it) for me anyway, is the severe side effects..insomnia, night jerks, ringing of ears, dizziness, and severe afternoon fatigue ( but, these were MY side effects..some have very few side effects with it)..i loved Nardils positive effects, but could not tolerate the side effects. They are both excellent drugs, but very different indeed.
Monte
Posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2006, at 11:36:45
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine, posted by Crazy Horse on August 13, 2006, at 10:35:52
Boy I'll have to agree with that even though I'm far from a drug expert. Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on August 13, 2006, at 15:21:39
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine, posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2006, at 11:36:45
How is nardil on the cardiac department. Does it cause tachycardia and blood pressure problems like the TCA's can.
Linkadge
Posted by silvercoin on August 14, 2006, at 8:00:29
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine, posted by linkadge on August 13, 2006, at 15:21:39
> How is nardil on the cardiac department. Does it cause tachycardia and blood pressure problems like the TCA's can.
>
> Linkadge
Nardil tends to lower both BP and heart rate. I've not tried imipramine but have tried three other tricyclics and feel that overall, Nardil has less severe side effects than TCAs, with the exception of insomnia. People tend to focus on the dietary restrictions, which IMO are really pretty minor, but in reality, the two most bothersome aspects to MAOIs seem to be insomnia and orthostatic hypotension. The latter is also a problem with tricyclics, but TCAs in general tend to be sedating, and imipramine is no exception.Todd
Posted by vainamoinen on August 14, 2006, at 14:42:08
In reply to What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 13, 2006, at 4:42:18
It doubled my resting heart rate from 50 to 100 bpm. Other than that it worked pretty well. It also cleared up my allergies better than benadryl.
Posted by linkadge on August 14, 2006, at 20:45:31
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine?, posted by vainamoinen on August 14, 2006, at 14:42:08
Sorry, were you referring to Nardil or a TCA?
Linkadge
Posted by vainamoinen on August 15, 2006, at 13:58:25
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine? » vainamoinen, posted by linkadge on August 14, 2006, at 20:45:31
> Sorry, were you referring to Nardil or a TCA?
>
> LinkadgeI was referring to imipramine.
Posted by Maxime on August 15, 2006, at 17:33:25
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine, posted by SLS on August 13, 2006, at 6:20:42
I agree 100 percent with Scott. It's like comparing apples and oranges.Maxime
> I disagree with this characterization of the two drugs. They are very different and tend to be best suited for different kinds of depression and anxiety disorders. Actually, imipramine is not generally effective for treating anxiety disorders. Nardil is. Imipramine is better at treating endogenous, agitated, or melancholic depression with undereating, insomnia, and morning worsenings. Nardil is better at treating atypical depression with low energy, overeating, oversleeping, and heavy limbs (leaden paralysis). Nardil, unlike imipramine, will also treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
>
> Imipramine is a powerful drug, and the gold standard for certain kinds of depression. However, Nardil might be the drug that best suites your needs.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by Squiggles on August 15, 2006, at 17:58:45
In reply to Re: What's your opinion/experience with Imipramine » SLS, posted by Maxime on August 15, 2006, at 17:33:25
I was first given imipramine when i had
severe depression, insomnia, and extreme
agitation (couldn't stop walking);
it made me so sick i told my dr. i would
rather be depressed. It was only after
some months (?) that my dr. collaborating
with other drs. and staff, tried lithium. What
a difference - sort of like pesticides
compared to honey (imipramine was like
pesticides - even broke out in a rash) -
horrible drug, but effective for some.Squiggles
This is the end of the thread.
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