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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 4WD on April 27, 2008, at 20:14:16
And it feels great. I'm not sure it's hypomania or if it's just that I'm not depressed anymore and feel like doing things. But I've accomplished more in the last month than in the last four years before. I am cleaning out closets. I planted a flower bed and a garden. I am cleaning out the pantry and the refrigerator and dresser drawers. I am busy all day and I *enjoy* it.
The reason I think it might be hypomania is that I am once again occasionally waking at 3 or 4 am and not being able to go back to sleep. And it's so unlike me to want to clean a closet.
And I had a really crappy day today which I am sure is from Nardil. I woke up at 3:30, got up all happy. The minute I got out of bed my BP plummeted and I had to get on my hands and knees. This went on all day. I was also nauseated. I took a nap and felt better but when I got up BP plummeted again.
My pdoc has suggested I lower my dose from 45mg to 37.5mg to help with the hypotension. I didn't do it so far because I was afraid it would interfere with my happy time I'm having. But after today, I skipped my third pill of the day and tomorrow will start following his instructions. I think. OTOH, I might keep on at 45. I am so scared of losing what I have going on right now that I am afraid to lower the dose. And I can stand an occasional bad day. And if I have a low BP spell, well, I can sit down.
Do you think lowering it by half a pill a day would interfere with my remission/possible hypomania?
Marsha
Posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 20:24:54
In reply to I think I have a touch of hypomania, posted by 4WD on April 27, 2008, at 20:14:16
Maybe it's not hypomania just feeling like a normal (whatever that is) person feels like? Love Phillipa best wishes on your decision.
Posted by 4WD on April 28, 2008, at 5:53:04
In reply to I think I have a touch of hypomania, posted by 4WD on April 27, 2008, at 20:14:16
> And it feels great. I'm not sure it's hypomania or if it's just that I'm not depressed anymore and feel like doing things. But I've accomplished more in the last month than in the last four years before. I am cleaning out closets. I planted a flower bed and a garden. I am cleaning out the pantry and the refrigerator and dresser drawers. I am busy all day and I *enjoy* it.
>
> The reason I think it might be hypomania is that I am once again occasionally waking at 3 or 4 am and not being able to go back to sleep. And it's so unlike me to want to clean a closet.
>
> And I had a really crappy day today which I am sure is from Nardil. I woke up at 3:30, got up all happy. The minute I got out of bed my BP plummeted and I had to get on my hands and knees. This went on all day. I was also nauseated. I took a nap and felt better but when I got up BP plummeted again.
>
> My pdoc has suggested I lower my dose from 45mg to 37.5mg to help with the hypotension. I didn't do it so far because I was afraid it would interfere with my happy time I'm having. But after today, I skipped my third pill of the day and tomorrow will start following his instructions. I think. OTOH, I might keep on at 45. I am so scared of losing what I have going on right now that I am afraid to lower the dose. And I can stand an occasional bad day. And if I have a low BP spell, well, I can sit down.
>
> Do you think lowering it by half a pill a day would interfere with my remission/possible hypomania?
>
> Marsha
I think I have decided to cut the Nardil down to 30mg a day and see what happens. Between the early waking, the low blood pressure problems and the elevated liver enzymes, it just seems like a good idea. If I get depressed again I will raise the dosage again if I have to.Marsha
Posted by 4WD on April 28, 2008, at 5:57:46
In reply to Re: I think I have a touch of hypomania » 4WD, posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2008, at 20:24:54
> Maybe it's not hypomania just feeling like a normal (whatever that is) person feels like? Love Phillipa best wishes on your decision.
I'm not sure but i sure hope you are right. I want to feel like this from now on, not just for a brief period like I would if it were hypomania.
Marsha
Posted by Quintal on April 28, 2008, at 8:40:18
In reply to I think I have a touch of hypomania, posted by 4WD on April 27, 2008, at 20:14:16
Posted by Phillipa on April 28, 2008, at 11:42:57
In reply to update, posted by 4WD on April 28, 2008, at 5:53:04
Marsha be safe and you know where I am. Let us know how the reduced dose goes. Love Phillipa
Posted by cumulative on April 30, 2008, at 6:22:45
In reply to update, posted by 4WD on April 28, 2008, at 5:53:04
I hate to bear bad news (but it's not -really- bad news) but the general opinion seems to be that this early hypomanic effect is not going to last forever. OTOH, a much-longer-lasting euthymic, even hyperthymic antidepressant effect can last much longer -- many, many years or more. There are some people who have been stabilized on Nardil for decades.
I wonder if a little memantine might help to help retain any part of the mood lift, if it was fading. Seems like it could potentially add some additional problems (specifically ocgnitive) though, on top of all of the side effects that Nardil already burdens most people with.
Another thing: if low blood pressure becomes a really serious problem, it might be interesting to look at extremely careful psychostimulant augmentation. Nicotine patches might help too. As always, be sure to discuss these things with your doc.
Posted by 4WD on April 30, 2008, at 17:08:20
In reply to Hey 4WD., posted by cumulative on April 30, 2008, at 6:22:45
> I hate to bear bad news (but it's not -really- bad news) but the general opinion seems to be that this early hypomanic effect is not going to last forever. OTOH, a much-longer-lasting euthymic, even hyperthymic antidepressant effect can last much longer -- many, many years or more. There are some people who have been stabilized on Nardil for decades.
>
> I wonder if a little memantine might help to help retain any part of the mood lift, if it was fading. Seems like it could potentially add some additional problems (specifically ocgnitive) though, on top of all of the side effects that Nardil already burdens most people with.
>
> Another thing: if low blood pressure becomes a really serious problem, it might be interesting to look at extremely careful psychostimulant augmentation. Nicotine patches might help too. As always, be sure to discuss these things with your doc.I think the hypomania is gone. I just feel better now not great. I am still doing things like cleaning closets but i don't get all excited about it any more.
As for the nicotine, I already smoke.
As for the l ow BP, I bought a monitor and found out it's not low. It's high. As high as 180/120. Most of the day it runs around 160/100. But then I have spells where it drops to 90/60 and I feel faint. But sometimes I feel like it's low because I feel faint, and I measure it and it's high. I measured it this morning, though, first thing when I really have the faintness and lightheadedness and it was 90/60 or so. Then I took it while standing up and it was 50/35 or so.
I called my internist and told him how it was fluctuating so wildly and he has scheduled me for a tilt table test. I knowit's from the nardil. My BP was always fairly stable at about 105/60 until I started the Nardil.
Obviously Ill stop drinking the salt water I thought I needed to raise my blood pressure. Actually I stopped drinking it yesterday. maybe when all that extra salt gets out of my system, it won't be so high.
\thanks for responding
Marsha
This is the end of the thread.
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