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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 51. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
I spent multiple years on Parnate and gave Nardil a long trial; I'm finding Marplan to be the most stable, reliable and (in some ways) most effective of the three (and it certainly has the fewest side-effects).
So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?
Posted by diego on January 17, 2009, at 12:46:45
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
Nardil gave me anorgasmia, but I don't remember many side effects from Parnate when I took it years ago.
What kind of unwanted side effects were you experiencing on Parnate?
Marplan might be an option for me if the agitation/stimulation doesn't abate.
Posted by Phillipa on January 17, 2009, at 13:19:50
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by diego on January 17, 2009, at 12:46:45
Not much talk of it from what I've read only on here. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on January 17, 2009, at 13:52:22
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
Rightly or wrongly, Marplan has always been considered to be the "weaker Nardil". Yet, yours isn't the only story of its kind. It is probably an undertutilized drug. It had been taken off the market over ten years ago for lack of sales. It reappeared not long thereafter. There were plenty of people for whom it was the only drug that worked. I never gave it a fair trial.
- Scott
Posted by diego on January 17, 2009, at 18:38:26
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by SLS on January 17, 2009, at 13:52:22
I wonder if ipronaizid is still available. It was the first AD, and the first MAOI. Started out life as an anti-tubercular drug, IIRC.
Posted by SLS on January 17, 2009, at 20:03:06
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by diego on January 17, 2009, at 18:38:26
> I wonder if ipronaizid is still available. It was the first AD, and the first MAOI. Started out life as an anti-tubercular drug, IIRC.
Iproniazid (Marsilid) was removed from the market because of hepatotoxicity. Isocarboxazid (Marplan) and phenelzine (Nardil) were introduced in 1959 and replaced iproniazid as an antidepressant. In the meantime, imipramine had been developed and tested in 1957 and also hit the market in 1959.
- Scott
Posted by Cseagraves on January 17, 2009, at 20:43:35
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by SLS on January 17, 2009, at 20:03:06
Personally I tried to look up info and reviews on Marplan, but just couldn't find much info on it. Am supposed to start parnate in two weeks.
I wish I could find more reviews from patients on Marplan vs. Parnate (effectiveness and cost)
CS
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 22:43:36
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by SLS on January 17, 2009, at 13:52:22
That's probably the right way to think of Marplan, as a weaker Nardil. It certainly never has been as great as Nardil was in the beginning, but it is stable, practically side-effect free; a drug that you could be on for the long haul.
> Rightly or wrongly, Marplan has always been considered to be the "weaker Nardil". Yet, yours isn't the only story of its kind. It is probably an undertutilized drug. It had been taken off the
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by desolationrower on January 18, 2009, at 6:25:16
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
> After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
>
> I spent multiple years on Parnate and gave Nardil a long trial; I'm finding Marplan to be the most stable, reliable and (in some ways) most effective of the three (and it certainly has the fewest side-effects).
>
> So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?Well, i think because few people know what it will be like. thus...
would you mind explaining how all three MAOIs affected you, pros cons, especially the details of marplan? hearing from someone who has actually taken it woudl be really valuable.
-d/r
Posted by bulldog2 on January 18, 2009, at 8:24:45
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
> After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
>
> I spent multiple years on Parnate and gave Nardil a long trial; I'm finding Marplan to be the most stable, reliable and (in some ways) most effective of the three (and it certainly has the fewest side-effects).
>
> So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?Is it available as generic or just brand name in the US? Heard it is safer than the other maois in terms of hypertensive crisis?
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 18, 2009, at 12:18:31
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » maoi_wowee, posted by desolationrower on January 18, 2009, at 6:25:16
> would you mind explaining how all three MAOIs affected you, pros cons, especially the details of marplan? hearing from someone who has actually taken it woudl be really valuable.
>
OK, a brief rundown of the three:Parnate
Was on Parnate for 2+ years, at doses up to 90mg/day, and in combination with several other drugs (Lithium, dexedrine, ritalin, valium and others that I'm forgetting).I found Parnate to be energizing and definitely pulled me out of and kept me out of real depressive episodes. What it didn't do was help at all with social anxiety issues. Also, I found it raised my anxiety levels at times and made me obsess about things in an anxious/angry kind of way.
Side effects, which did get better over time to some extent: SEVERE insomnia, BP fluctuations.
Nardil
The first 2-3 weeks when Nardil really kicked in was probably the best time in my life. I got to experience a life free of depression and free of social anxiety for the first time ever. I felt open to the world and everything wonderful in it.Unfortunately, that didn't last. Nardil continued to help with the depression and the social anxiety to some degree, but nothing in comparison to how it was initially.
The major problem I had with Nardil was the weight gain. I happened to have started taking Nardil during a period in my life where I was exercising rigorously for about 3 hours day (I was in boot camp in the mornings and had a personal trainer after work) and was also watching what I ate.
I hadn't weighed myself in a few weeks, so I was excited to get on the scale in the gym. About four weeks earlier, when I was just ramping up my workout regimen and as I was starting Nardil, I had weighed in at about 170lbs (I'm a 5'8" male, goal weight for me is in the mid-150's, I can balloon up to the 220's though).
I got on the scale, telling myself that I would be happy if I had gone to 165lbs or below, really trying to psych myself out because I KNEW that I was really going to weigh in closer to 160lbs. Instead, I was shocked beyond belief to come in at over 180lbs, having gained almost 15 lbs in this four week period of intense exercise and moderate eating.
This trend continued and within weeks I was back up over 200lbs. I really have no explanation for how this could have happened as my food consumption hadn't increased appreciably. The Nardil was just too much and I had to pull the plug on it.
Marplan
Marplan has proved to be a totally stable and reliable drug that could definitely last me for the long haul. I don't really have any side effects, though I honestly can't determine if it has caused me to gain more weight (I have gained weight while on Marplan, but, unlike on Nardil, I haven't been exercising and my diet has been rotten so weight gain makes sense).Taking Marplan is like taking nothing at all. I take 50-55mg/day and I just don't notice it. I don't get depressed and I don't have any real anxiety issues (though I still avoid social situations). Everything on Marplan is just fine and it's hard to say much that is bad at all about the drug.
Marplan feels like a very different drug than Parnate (the only resemblance being that both alleviate my depression better than any non-MAOI drugs ever have).
Marplan does feel like Nardil to some degree. I certainly don't have that total relief of depression that I experienced on Nardil at first (though, again, that only really lasted a few weeks), but I also don't have any lows and don't have the terrible side effect issues that I had with Nardil.
I think Marplan would throw a lot of people who are used to cycling through drugs fairly quickly after experiencing each drug's ups and downs. Marplan has no major ups and also no major downs.
It just relieves depression and anxiety plain and simple. Which can be challenging in its own way as it seems to really take care of the clinical aspects of depression and forces you to confront how your own voluntary behaviors help exacerbate the disease.
Posted by bulldog2 on January 18, 2009, at 12:49:37
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
> After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
>
> I spent multiple years on Parnate and gave Nardil a long trial; I'm finding Marplan to be the most stable, reliable and (in some ways) most effective of the three (and it certainly has the fewest side-effects).
>
> So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?How does it effect your libido?
Posted by Cseagraves on January 18, 2009, at 15:44:08
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 18, 2009, at 12:18:31
Am supposed to be starting parnate in a couple of weeks, but am thinking that Marplan might be the better choice as I already have BP issues.
I am assuming diet restrictions are still the same. Did it make you feel tired when first starting? Did you feel more energetic?
Just tired of being tired all the time. I have severe GAD and agoraphobia. Would love an energy boost, but definately don't want to take anything that might make me more anxietal.
Could you tell me anything about cost, as we had to let our health insurance go.
Thanks,
Courtney
Posted by bulldog2 on January 18, 2009, at 17:53:24
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 18, 2009, at 15:44:08
> Am supposed to be starting parnate in a couple of weeks, but am thinking that Marplan might be the better choice as I already have BP issues.
>
> I am assuming diet restrictions are still the same. Did it make you feel tired when first starting? Did you feel more energetic?
>
> Just tired of being tired all the time. I have severe GAD and agoraphobia. Would love an energy boost, but definately don't want to take anything that might make me more anxietal.
>
> Could you tell me anything about cost, as we had to let our health insurance go.
>
> Thanks,
>
> CourtneyIs only available in brand name and has to be ordered but is available. With my health insurance would be the highest tier payment of $50 so I assume it would be costly. I also have bp issues and also weight gain issues so I'm think Marplan might be a good choice and is an overlooked drug.
Posted by Cseagraves on January 18, 2009, at 19:50:12
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by bulldog2 on January 18, 2009, at 17:53:24
BD,
Thanks for the info on cost. Guess I'll call my pharmacists tomorrow and see what he can tell me.
So, did it really make a difference as far as you could tell?
Sorry so many questions, but desperately want something to work.
Courtney
Posted by bulldog2 on January 18, 2009, at 20:18:31
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 18, 2009, at 19:50:12
> BD,
>
> Thanks for the info on cost. Guess I'll call my pharmacists tomorrow and see what he can tell me.
>
> So, did it really make a difference as far as you could tell?
>
> Sorry so many questions, but desperately want something to work.
>
> CourtneyThinking of trying it have not started yet...some old threads say it leads to weight gain which is a deal killer for me..need more info.
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 19, 2009, at 1:28:22
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by bulldog2 on January 18, 2009, at 12:49:37
Ah, forgot to address this. Marplan has no noticeable effect on my libido in any way. Parnate seemed to increase my libido (at least for brief periods after I would take my dose in the mornings) and, of course, Nardil decreased my libido and completely wiped out my ability to orgasm for several months...
> How does it effect your libido?
>
>
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 19, 2009, at 1:33:56
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 18, 2009, at 15:44:08
Well, Parnate definitely screwed with my BP in a major way. My BP would get really high for an hour or so after my daily dose in the mornings..so bad that I could feel my heart pounding. Then my BP would dip incredibly low later in the day. I guess Nardil screwed with my BP too, at least in the beginning when I passed out a couple of times (very weird feeling, and quite dangerous)
I don't notice any effect either way on Marplan with my BP, though my readings do tend to be very low.
Can't say I felt more or less tired on Marplan. Definitely not energizing like Parnate and also not sedating like Nardil. Kind of middle of the road, I guess.
Sorry, but I can't really speak to cost of Marplan as I have full health insurance coverage. Unfortunately, I don't think there is any generic version of the drug, but perhaps there is some kind of discount plan to take advantage of...
> Am supposed to be starting parnate in a couple of weeks, but am thinking that Marplan might be the better choice as I already have BP issues.
>
> I am assuming diet restrictions are still the same. Did it make you feel tired when first starting? Did you feel more energetic?
>
> Just tired of being tired all the time. I have severe GAD and agoraphobia. Would love an energy boost, but definately don't want to take anything that might make me more anxietal.
>
> Could you tell me anything about cost, as we had to let our health insurance go.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Courtney
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 19, 2009, at 1:35:05
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by bulldog2 on January 18, 2009, at 17:53:24
>
> Is only available in brand name and has to be ordered but is available. With my health insurance would be the highest tier payment of $50 so I assume it would be costly. I also have bp issues and also weight gain issues so I'm think Marplan might be a good choice and is an overlooked drug.
There's your answer. Probably is expensive as I also have the really high $50 copay.
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 19, 2009, at 1:38:39
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 18, 2009, at 19:50:12
>
> So, did it really make a difference as far as you could tell?
>
> Sorry so many questions, but desperately want something to work.
>
> CourtneyYes, Marplan DEFINITELY makes a difference. Trust me, it's no placebo. It keeps me in a really even, depression-free state. And I've had a few things happen since being on Marplan that would have caused me to sink into a terrible depression other times, but on Marplan, I NEVER hit those really low depressed states. Which is not to say that it numbs me either, I just don't hit those lows.
Posted by bulldog2 on January 19, 2009, at 9:23:16
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 19, 2009, at 1:38:39
> >
> > So, did it really make a difference as far as you could tell?
> >
> > Sorry so many questions, but desperately want something to work.
> >
> > Courtney
>
> Yes, Marplan DEFINITELY makes a difference. Trust me, it's no placebo. It keeps me in a really even, depression-free state. And I've had a few things happen since being on Marplan that would have caused me to sink into a terrible depression other times, but on Marplan, I NEVER hit those really low depressed states. Which is not to say that it numbs me either, I just don't hit those lows.How does it effect your appetite? Does it make you ravenous or is it appetite neutral?
Posted by diego on January 19, 2009, at 11:53:27
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 18, 2009, at 12:18:31
Maoi-
Thanks for the organized and detailed description of Marplan's effects vs. Parnate and Nardil.
Glad it's working so well for you.
Posted by psychobot5000 on January 19, 2009, at 12:05:14
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
> After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
>
>
> So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?For what it's worth, from what I remember reading about it, it's always been considered the most hepatoxic of the MAOIs (besides iproniazid, of course, which has been gone for decades). It's apparently considered a more serious risk than with Nardil. So that's one reason why it's been unpopular. Glad it seems to be working so well, though, and so low on side-effects. Those can be tough with MAOis.
I assume you're getting liver-function tests while you take it?
Posted by Cseagraves on January 19, 2009, at 17:00:45
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
Maoi,
Hi there again!!
Sorry, but here come the questions.
How long did it take you to start feeling effects? (days, weeks?). How long before you started feeling consistantly level?
Were you tired in the beginning? If so, how long did it take for your energy level to come back up?
Do you feel like it gives you extra energy?
Did you have any BP problems?
Do you have to take something to help you sleep? If so what? (Have tried every med to help with sleep. Nothing helps except a bunch of zanax.)
Did you need to or did you ever take a benzo as backup? I am hoping to be able not to take zanax's if I don't need to.
Since I am a female (I am assuming you are a male), was wondering how it effects libido? Understand if you can't answer that one.
I am 5'2 and weigh 125 lbs. Do you feel like it's one of those drugs that I can keep the weight down with exercise and diet or do you feel like you gain weight regardless of what you do?
I am seeing the pdoc on Feb. 5th and need to choose between parnate or marplan. Am strongly leaning towards the marplan because of BP issues and because I read that parnate can make you more anxietal sometimes. (which I don't need).
I apologize for bombarding you like this, but there is not alot info out there on marplan.
I talked to my pharmacist today and he said at regular starting dosage, it would probably cost me about $150.00 per month. Not to bad as I have had to pay alot more for other meds.
Can you tell I am desperate for something to work? LOL!!!!
I truly appreciate any responses that you might have. If you can think of anyrhing to tell me that I did not ask, please let me know. I JUST WANT MY ENERGY, MOTIVATION AND LIFE BACK!!!Thanks, Courtney
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 21, 2009, at 12:48:47
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by bulldog2 on January 19, 2009, at 9:23:16
hmmm, I'd call it appetite neutral, or, at the very least it certainly doesn't make me ravenous. I'm on a diet now and not having any difficulty cutting back on food.
> How does it effect your appetite? Does it make you ravenous or is it appetite neutral?
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