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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Trevpr on March 2, 2013, at 15:30:49
Hello, I was on this forum a while back asking questions about Parnate. Well, my psychiatrist FINALLY prescribed it to me, so I thought that I would contribute my experiences with it. If anyone could give me some pointers and information about what to really expect I would appreciate that :) .
Essentially I feel more depressed at certain times than others, but underneath all of that is a pervasive sense of anhedonia/emotional numbness/apathy/loss of libido. I was hoping that Parnate could help prevent my moods from "bottoming out" while also getting rid of this really annoying anhedonia/emotional numbness/apathy/loss of libido.
I have tried many different medications while trying to avoid the SSRIs/SNRIs (because they blunt emotions and libido), such as psychostimulants, NRIs, Wellbutrin, dopamine agonists, supplements, and PT-141 (Bremelanotide). Psychostimulants seemed to be the only things to help at all, but quickly formed a tolerance, only worked for about an hour after dosing, I had a "crash" after each "high," they didn't completely return me to baseline, they raised my heartrate, and were unreliable.
So here is my Parnate Journal so far:
Day 1 - Took 20mg at once at around 2:40pm. Did not notice any differences except maybe an elevated pulse around 9:00pm
Day 2 - Took 20mg; 10mg at 9:50am, and another 10mg at 2:00pm. Did not notice any difference or side effects - felt extremely down in the later hours
Day 3 - Took 20mg; 10mg at around 9:30am, and another 10mg at around 2:00pm. Did not notice any difference or side effects
Day 4 - Same as day 3, except it seems that my pulse is gradually going down. It is possible that my blood pressure was lower when I went to sleep.
Day 5 - I have been still taking 20mg daily. Today I think that I feel more tired than usual. It is possible that my blood pressure is lower than normal, but I'm not sure, and if it is, not by much.
When should I expect a noticeable change? And is the change usually dramatic, or is it like a subtle little boost to take the edge off? I'm trying to get back to the person I was before the depression, so I don't think subtle little changes are going to cut it for me, and if Parnate doesn't work, I really only have ECT left! D:
Thanks for reading everybody!
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2013, at 18:19:25
In reply to Parnate Journal Diary Experience, posted by Trevpr on March 2, 2013, at 15:30:49
I do hope a poster with parnate experience answers your thread. I have no experience. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on March 3, 2013, at 11:34:06
In reply to Parnate Journal Diary Experience, posted by Trevpr on March 2, 2013, at 15:30:49
How long to expect change? Realistically, 3 week to 12 week range.
And if you think ECT is all that's left, you got a lot of studying to do, because when psych drugs don't work that is a really really loud clue that you are barking up the wrong tree....it's something else not neurotransmitters causing your problems.
Posted by Trevpr on March 3, 2013, at 13:49:10
In reply to Parnate Journal Diary Experience, posted by Trevpr on March 2, 2013, at 15:30:49
Well if it isn't neurotransmitters, I'm not really sure what else there is to work with? I go out and see friends, try to be reasonably active - go to school, getting a job, etc. My life is pretty good, but cannot feel any sort of pleasurable sensation, and when my mood dips, it is usually like the weather in that I cannot predict or control it. It gets pretty severe at times. And of course, this lack of libido is killing me!
There are a few other drug options I guess, like maybe the antipsychotic class of drugs (though I did try Abilify) and maybe Serzone or Remeron or something... But really if I am this resistant to drugs, and I want to get out of this depression quickly, if Parnate does not work, I think ECT would be the best choice, no?
Also my blood pressure has not been low at all - I checked it and it has been perfect.
Posted by ikasug on March 4, 2013, at 9:18:04
In reply to Re: Parnate Journal Diary Experience, posted by Trevpr on March 3, 2013, at 13:49:10
My blood pressure on Parnate lowered by about 20 mmHg after a few weeks.
You will probably get some orthostatic hypotension when you get out of bed or get up too quickly once you increase the dose. This should eventually go away.
Posted by Trevpr on March 4, 2013, at 16:02:53
In reply to Parnate Journal Diary Experience, posted by Trevpr on March 2, 2013, at 15:30:49
Day 6 - My blood pressure and heart rate are unchanged. I am not experiencing any side effects or changes in mood/anhedonia/libido
Day 7 - No change
Tomorrow I begin taking 30mg/day. I have heard that the effective dose is usually 30-50mg and that people typically note a change after 2 weeks.
This is the end of the thread.
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