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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 Cseagraves on January 8, 2009, at 16:10:06
O.k. - i'm gonna jump into this one even though I haven't actually even started on parnate yet. (Am still weening off last week of Lexapro and then have to take my two-week break before starting the parnate). I've already posted a couple of questions concerning parnate because I am as concerned (probably overly) as the rest of you are who are new to this med. I research everything to the hilt and then some and I read every post.
Jade - one of the sites I went to was askapatient.com and looked at the reviews on parnate in addition to the other maoi's and parnate got the best of all reviews even with all of the interactions. Someone there also made a post about what his pdoc told him to do when it felt like the effects were wearing off. Something about not taking it for a period of time (cold turkey) and then starting back up again. I can't remember everything exactly, but I'm sure you could find the post on there easily and also read some of the other reviews. As for me, I'm sure I will be an even bigger pain than you on here with all of the questions I have. AND SCOTT YOU CAN JUMP IN ANYTIME!!!!
I still have so many questions and concerns, because I am already being treated for HBP, so I'm not real clear about how that is going to be handled. I will be asking my pdoc about nifedipine. Can I still exercise to the degree that I used to (running five miles a day, weight training) I did this alot before the GAD got really bad and then I became agoraphobic. My hope is that I will be able to do this on the parnate at some point since all ssri's have failed. I just want my life back. I used to be fun, active, outgoing, very sociable and feared nothing (well except flying, but I was at least willing to get on the plane and try). Not now, you couldn't even get me to the airport at this point. Was in nursing school, had a career going, always doing things with my husband and kids. Have always been health conscious and tried every natural approach when the GAD hit a couple of years ago.
Also went to several therapist hoping that they would be the "magic person" that would help. Was told that it probably stemmed from a highly abusive and stressful childhood. (Whatever!!!) I've seen people who have had worse childhoods than mine and they are not like this. Desperate and trying to get through school and raise two sons I gave in to trying ssri's (reluctantly). Tried them all pretty much with the same effect. Great for a couple of months, then would poop out. Had a very active life and don't understand what flipped the switch. Please know that I am not whining, just venting a little. I'm not depressed, just highly pissed. :-)
I guess to, I'm just wanting everyone to now a little about me since I have been reading your post for quite some time and I will be posting here alot. Sorry. My point before I got on my wagon was that I'm the new parnate "virgin" here since I haven't started it yet and I'm sure I will be posting on a daily basis when I do. And at least I will know more of what to expect thanks to all of you who have already started this med or have taken it before. I am even amazed that my pdoc, knowing how much i was struggling, never suggested maoi's. I brought it up to him, which he was O.K. with, but he was not sure what to do when I asked him about me already taking meds for HBP. I had to call my GP for that one.
I am learning quickly that I will have to be the informed one and seek out most of my answers. Please be ready because I am sure I will be bombarding you with questions over the next couple of weeks and then some. I am thankful for all of the people here and the advice given in your posts to others. Hopefully I can be of some help to others when they first start this med. Didn't mean to babble so long, but I have been on a rollercoaster all day coming off this lexapro. Head won't stop spinning. Think I'll go lay down now. Nice to meet everyone. I'm sure you will be hearing from me again soon. Namaste'
Courtney
Posted by JadeKelly on January 8, 2009, at 20:19:50
In reply to parnate info please!, posted by Cseagraves on January 8, 2009, at 16:10:06
> O.k. - i'm gonna jump into this one even though I haven't actually even started on parnate yet. (Am still weening off last week of Lexapro and then have to take my two-week break before starting the parnate). I've already posted a couple of questions concerning parnate because I am as concerned (probably overly) as the rest of you are who are new to this med. I research everything to the hilt and then some and I read every post.
>
> Jade - one of the sites I went to was askapatient.com and looked at the reviews on parnate in addition to the other maoi's and parnate got the best of all reviews even with all of the interactions. Someone there also made a post about what his pdoc told him to do when it felt like the effects were wearing off. Something about not taking it for a period of time (cold turkey) and then starting back up again. I can't remember everything exactly, but I'm sure you could find the post on there easily and also read some of the other reviews. As for me, I'm sure I will be an even bigger pain than you on here with all of the questions I have. AND SCOTT YOU CAN JUMP IN ANYTIME!!!!
>
> I still have so many questions and concerns, because I am already being treated for HBP, so I'm not real clear about how that is going to be handled. I will be asking my pdoc about nifedipine. Can I still exercise to the degree that I used to (running five miles a day, weight training) I did this alot before the GAD got really bad and then I became agoraphobic. My hope is that I will be able to do this on the parnate at some point since all ssri's have failed. I just want my life back. I used to be fun, active, outgoing, very sociable and feared nothing (well except flying, but I was at least willing to get on the plane and try). Not now, you couldn't even get me to the airport at this point. Was in nursing school, had a career going, always doing things with my husband and kids. Have always been health conscious and tried every natural approach when the GAD hit a couple of years ago.
>
> Also went to several therapist hoping that they would be the "magic person" that would help. Was told that it probably stemmed from a highly abusive and stressful childhood. (Whatever!!!) I've seen people who have had worse childhoods than mine and they are not like this. Desperate and trying to get through school and raise two sons I gave in to trying ssri's (reluctantly). Tried them all pretty much with the same effect. Great for a couple of months, then would poop out. Had a very active life and don't understand what flipped the switch. Please know that I am not whining, just venting a little. I'm not depressed, just highly pissed. :-)
>
> I guess to, I'm just wanting everyone to now a little about me since I have been reading your post for quite some time and I will be posting here alot. Sorry. My point before I got on my wagon was that I'm the new parnate "virgin" here since I haven't started it yet and I'm sure I will be posting on a daily basis when I do. And at least I will know more of what to expect thanks to all of you who have already started this med or have taken it before. I am even amazed that my pdoc, knowing how much i was struggling, never suggested maoi's. I brought it up to him, which he was O.K. with, but he was not sure what to do when I asked him about me already taking meds for HBP. I had to call my GP for that one.
>
> I am learning quickly that I will have to be the informed one and seek out most of my answers. Please be ready because I am sure I will be bombarding you with questions over the next couple of weeks and then some. I am thankful for all of the people here and the advice given in your posts to others. Hopefully I can be of some help to others when they first start this med. Didn't mean to babble so long, but I have been on a rollercoaster all day coming off this lexapro. Head won't stop spinning. Think I'll go lay down now. Nice to meet everyone. I'm sure you will be hearing from me again soon. Namaste'
>
> CourtneyHi Courtney,
I strongly urge you to see the thread above regarding Parnate experiences and re-read some of the posts. If you have done that and are just looking for more, I'm sure you'll get more.
If you read those posts, along with what you get posted here, another step, which I see you have covered with the BP post, is to ask individual questions you still don't have answered. You can check recent archives, you'll find lots of info. I posted a thread on the Neuroboard a while back, not sure if its still there or not. Btw-as you've noticed, there is a lot more action on the Med board. Looks like your a person thats going to leave no stone unturned! Again, I urge you to have a Doctor monitoring this whole picture, as I am concerned about your high BP, combined with Parnate, without a Doc taking responsibility for your care. OK, I'll leave it alone!
I'm around so I'll keep an eye out for you!
~Jade
>
>
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2009, at 0:29:36
In reply to Re: parnate info please! » Cseagraves, posted by JadeKelly on January 8, 2009, at 20:19:50
As to what triggered the switch as you mention Gad first and nursing school and raising family get a good physical first and get complete thyroid panel as stress triggered my thyroid wacky 14 years ago and that led to severe anxiety. Just a suggestion. Phillipa
Posted by Cseagraves on January 9, 2009, at 12:38:36
In reply to Re: parnate info please!, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2009, at 0:29:36
Hey there Phillipa -
Thanks for your response. When everything started getting bad years ago, I had a complete physical and blood work, which I stay on top of regularly. I think one contributing factor is that I had polycystic ovarian disease as a teenager. To make a long story short, I eventually had to have a radical hysterectomy 5 years ago. So basically, my hormone levels have always been low and then after the hysterectomy, (Because I wouldn't take artificial hormones) my body went into adrenal stress. When I had my hormones checked about a year ago, I was in the negative on everything, except testosterone, which I didn't need. Developed osteopenia (couldn't figure out why I kept breaking bones so easily). If you google side effects from low estogen, it will show you such side effect as anxiety, depression, and panic among several other things.
So I have been on bio-identical hormones every since, slowly trying to build myself back up. I think that combined with a highly stressful childhood and watching my mom pass away from pancreatic cancer and just everyday stresses of life that we put on ourselves, finally just hit its peak.
After talking to Jade and others here, I started to read up on trazadone. Called a friend who is a nurse and we talked alot about it. I called my pdoc today and asked him about it and think I would rather try it first before resorting to parnate. To many things to worry about with that drug, considering I already have HBP.
I wish I could stress to women more who are 35 years or older (and my GP said this also)that hormones should be something they get checked if they start feeling depressed and anxietal. Most womens hormone levels are beginning to fluctuate at that point. I've seen women, whom after their hormones are leveled out become new people.
Unfortunately, mine seems to be more severe.
Thanks again!! :-)
CS
Posted by desolationrower on January 9, 2009, at 16:12:15
In reply to parnate info please!, posted by Cseagraves on January 8, 2009, at 16:10:06
hi,
It sounds like you are used to being very productive, outgoing, etc. HAve you thought about the possibility of a dx of bipolar?-d/r
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2009, at 21:40:08
In reply to Re: parnate info please!, posted by Cseagraves on January 9, 2009, at 12:38:36
I understand as it is said by some perimenopause takes l5 years and those times hormones fluctuate wildly. I was worse going through menopause and yup took bioidentical hormore the cream ones compounded and helped. Now it's thyroid another hormone. So I think just my opinion of course that you are being wise consulting others with medical degrees. Love Phillipa
Posted by Cseagraves on January 11, 2009, at 21:40:48
In reply to Re: parnate info please! » Cseagraves, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2009, at 21:40:08
Phillipa,
How are the bio-identical creams working for you? I'm not sure why(and my gyn couldn't figure it out either) but my body wouldn't absorb the creams. I had been on them for a year and my bloodwork was still coming back in the negative. So now I am having to take them by mouth, which is what I was trying to avoid.
I will be going back at the end of January to re-do bloodwork and see if that is making a difference. They are still bio-identical, but didn't want this stuff running through my liver. Oh Well. I had the hysterectomy when I was 36, now I'm 41. The doc says he is trying to keep my body from going into menopause, but since I've had problems as a teenager this is obviously going to be a battle.
My thyroid has been checked alot over the last couple of years because low-estrogen can cause the same problems. What did your thyroid tests come back as? Did they run the whole panel? (T-3, T-4, T-5). I could probably give you more info if I knew what your dx was.
Let me know!!!
Courtney
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2009, at 19:46:55
In reply to Re: parnate info please!, posted by Cseagraves on January 11, 2009, at 21:40:48
Courney hi. No longer on bioidentical hormones and post menopausal. At the time took them or used the cream no bloodwork other than FSH. Just left the endos and ran more bloodwork. Hasimotos thyroiditis for 14 years. Right now for past year no stabalization of TSH, T4. More labs he's aiming for l-l.5 TSH as that is the Bell curve. I know feel better on higher. Babblemail always on. Love Phillipa
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