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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 4, 2007, at 23:03:07
OMG, I went up from 30 to 45 mg the last three days and it smacked me. When I first get up in the morning, I almost black out. I guess the good news about this, and only ppl who take Nardil could confirm, is that I have been told when this happens that this is a sign that Nardil will likely work for you. If thats the case, hooray for the blackouts!
Michael
Posted by football on April 5, 2007, at 2:17:50
In reply to Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 4, 2007, at 23:03:07
I have this too. Every single time I stand up after I've been sitting down I feel very lightheaded. Never quite blacked out, though several times I thought I would.
I'm a little worried about how much worse it will get when I increase to 90 MG in a week or two...
Posted by naughtypuppy on April 5, 2007, at 10:54:24
In reply to Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 4, 2007, at 23:03:07
Parnate had a lovely lavender color when I felt like passing out. Nardil just looked like a tv with the brightness turned up all the way.
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 11:30:44
In reply to Re: Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil, posted by naughtypuppy on April 5, 2007, at 10:54:24
This really happens? Think I'll skip the MAOI's. Love Phillipa/Jan
Posted by stargazer on April 5, 2007, at 13:33:02
In reply to Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 4, 2007, at 23:03:07
Michael, did you get a cuff? I hope so. Don't let readings drop too low. Mine is normalnow but went as low as 80/40 on seroquel then when started Emsam. My normal is 100/60, low to begin with. Make sure you drink lots of fluid and are liberal with salting of foods. Yum.
If you're on any BP meds, they should probably be stopped. Keep records of your readings at each dose you take, it may or may not stabalize over
time. Need to watch very closely.Severely low BP can cause other problems besides fainting, may cause arrhythmias and stroke so call you pdoc if it drops too low. 90/50 is a good drop off point or if you actually do black out, call pdoc. Not enough blood getting to the brain and heart, passing out ensure it gets there but not good to get that low!
Stargazer
Posted by naughtypuppy on April 5, 2007, at 19:47:11
In reply to Re: Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil, posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 11:30:44
> This really happens? Think I'll skip the MAOI's. Love Phillipa/Jan
Don't let that scare you off. It only happens to some people. With other people it's only temporary or absent.
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 19:57:42
In reply to Re: Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil » Phillipa, posted by naughtypuppy on April 5, 2007, at 19:47:11
Maybe so but dangerous at my age with the fact that everyone in my small family died of strokes or heart attacks with the exception of my Mother who had Addisons was on bedrest at Yale and threw a pulmonary embolism . Love Phillipa
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:16:35
In reply to Re: Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil » naughtypuppy, posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 19:57:42
Heck, there has never been any med Ive tried, even those sorry a$$ SSRIs, that didnt have some side effect. The good news, I hope, is that I have been told by my docs and others on the med, is postural hypotension could be a sign that Nardil will work.
Im sure I will have other side effects over the next few weeks, but many say most of them eventually go away. I am willing to put up with this in hopes that Nardil will be the same miracle that it has been for many others.
And if it fails me, well then I will try something else.
Dont fear Nardil, embrace it! 50 years and kicking is proof it is doing something good.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:18:34
In reply to BP readings????, posted by stargazer on April 5, 2007, at 13:33:02
I bought a BP wrist machine and take it all the time. Checks out just fine so far, but will keep monitoring. As always, thanks for your advice, care and concern.
What did you mean by salt? Michael
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 21:20:26
In reply to Re: BP readings???? Salt, huh???? » stargazer, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:18:34
Not stargazer but salt will hold fluids and that may help with your BP. Love Phillipa ps fluids in your body as in blood volume
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:25:30
In reply to Re: BP readings???? Salt, huh???? » UgottaHaveHope, posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 21:20:26
It was 100 times worse than any side effects so far from Nardil. Prozac made me feel like I was crawling out of my skin. I stopped it after a week, but it took months to recover from the emotional trauma of it.
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2007, at 21:28:14
In reply to Prozac was the worst med Ive ever taken, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:25:30
Toss up between prozac and cymbalta the second time. Love Phillipa
Posted by UGottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:42:34
In reply to Re: Whoooaaa, Postural hypotension on Nardil, posted by football on April 5, 2007, at 2:17:50
We're past the point of no return. We're so close, especially you. History has shown (by reading hundreds of other past posts on this board) if you can hang on through all the awful side effects in the beginning, you will reap the rewards. Keep expressing your thoughts and experiences. As you can see, there are tons of this board both watching your experience (thinking they might try it too) and also providing support and encouragement. Time, just a little more time. Hang in there, SO CLOSE. Michael
Posted by stargazer on April 5, 2007, at 21:44:20
In reply to Re: BP readings???? Salt, huh???? » stargazer, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:18:34
When your BP is low you can add lots of salt to your food. It increases fluid retention which will minimize any decrease in BP. So your BP is fine meaning you are not having any drop in your BP, right? I thought you were very dizzy so I assumed your BP was very low. What are your readings like? Is the cuff accurate? You could check it against another cuff at the pharmacy to make sure it is acccurate?
Going OK? BTW I requested a consultation to the doc your doc rec in CT. Thanks again.
SG
Posted by UGottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 22:57:39
In reply to Re: BP readings???? Salt, huh????, posted by stargazer on April 5, 2007, at 21:44:20
My BP readings in last hour after eating lite Moz cheese ...
107/71 with 60 pulse
115/66 with 60 pulse
115/67 with 60 pulse
111/73 with 57 pulseI am taking it sitting down, with hand even with heart. Is that the correct way?
Dizziness: Never had any, just a few blackouts, especially first time standing up in the morning.
Salt: Just ate some Fritos for some salt. I like that medical advice.
Cuff: Good idea, I will compare it to grocery store monitor this wkd
Pdoc: Make sure to drop my pdoc's name.
Posted by football on April 6, 2007, at 2:09:25
In reply to Re: Hey football, lets make a pact, posted by UGottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 21:42:34
Oh yeah! **** the side-effects! They are a pain in the *ss sometimes, but I'm already getting so much more positive benefits then with any other drug that the side-effects would have to kill me (or cause Akathisia as bad as Abilify did...) for me to stop taking it.
Posted by stargazer on April 6, 2007, at 7:03:25
In reply to SG, you tell me, well pretty please » stargazer, posted by UGottaHaveHope on April 5, 2007, at 22:57:39
BP readings are perfect. Likely you have orthostatic BP which means when you you stand to get out of bed, the blood drains quickly from your head and no blood to the brain = blacking out.
Another suggestion is to sit a minute or two before standing up before getting out of bed. This allows the blood to gradually drain from head and not result in profound drop (>30 mmg hg) is considered "orthostatic" BP. LIke if your normal systolic (top number) BP is 120, orthostatic would be if it drops to 90 or less. You could measure if you had the cuff on as you get out of bed for curiosity sake.
I did mention in email to recommended pdoc, your pdoc. Of course I give credit where credit is due to you and your main man. I hope he responds, he is sooooooooooooooo busy and important, but hopefully my email will interest him...SG
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 6, 2007, at 12:44:35
In reply to Re: SG, you tell me, well pretty please/Michael, posted by stargazer on April 6, 2007, at 7:03:25
My pdoc is one of busiest ppl in the world, and always flying around for various medical conferences, etc. He has been out of the country twice in the last four weeks.
However, he still insists on seeing around 10 patients because it makes him feel connected to the people he is doing all the research for.
I am sure if he recommended this particular pdoc, then that pdoc also takes on hard cases, or what they call "treatment-resistant."
For me, I tried to call my pdoc forever and got no response. Then I wrote him an email and heard back within five minutes. I have found that pdocs who are also researchers seem to much better than regular pdocs in the business world.
The pdocs seem to take a different approach. Mine also insists on me seeing a therapist once per week. The good news about that is that the therapist and pdoc meet once per week to discuss my case (their offices are four doors down from each other), which would never happen in the business world. What is cool about that is that if I have a big medicine question, my therapist will take it to the pdoc and get it answered. Or I could email my pdoc, which I never was able to do with pdocs in private practice.
Given the right situation, and I hope yours to be the same as mine, this is the best care by far I have ever gotten. They really seem to care, take time to listen, and don't just daydream for 15 minutes while you talk and write a prescription.
I would think my pdoc recommended that pdoc because he sees patients and will be able to help you. If you have trouble getting in, be persistent. If you continue to have trouble, then email me and perhaps my pdoc would call up there. I would ask him, just for you. Michael
Posted by stargazer on April 7, 2007, at 18:09:42
In reply to Re: SG, you tell me, well pretty please/Michael » stargazer, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 6, 2007, at 12:44:35
Thanks for all the help and advice you've given me. My pdoc doesn't know this guy but he knows of him, so that is good. He needs someone else to refer really difficult cases to, so it could work out for him as well. Too bad the pdocs don't really help you get referrals or admit they're stumped as to what to do next.
I think you have an ideal situation, how did you get your "expert" anywat? Your research, a referral? An he rec the therapist too, right? Does he take your insurance or do you pay out of pocket? You can email me on this. Thanks a million, hopefully future Nardil twins.
Stargazer
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 8, 2007, at 1:32:40
In reply to Nardil twins/Michael, posted by stargazer on April 7, 2007, at 18:09:42
This is the end of the thread.
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