Posted by slimjim on July 8, 2016, at 18:39:09
In reply to Re: Parnate: initial side effects, dosage and duration, posted by Madnate on September 21, 2013, at 6:54:34
I know I am way too late to help the OP, but maybe someone else will benefit from this information. I am a MDD, Social Anxiety and Generalised Anxiety disorder sufferer.
I went through the merry go round of psych meds from 2002-2003 (Cipramil, Zoloft, Effexor, Paxil). Finally I found a psychiatrist, who tried me on Aurorix (Moclobemide a RIMA). Unlike the former, Aurorix worked. However, as described by one of the posters here, the initial week or two were hard.
I was dizzy, felt like I was in the clouds, and had insomnia. I needed to be driven around by others as I couldnt drive safely. After about 2 weeks at 300mg (a low dose) I woke up one day completely cured with no side effects (including no sexual ones which was massively important back then as I was early 20s in fact, it improved libido IMO). I was completely cured on it for about 7 years. It seemed to be losing its effect and I came off it with the intention of trying a TCA, however being off it was horrible and I went back on and was fine for another 3 years.
At this point I realised my Anxiety disorders were gone with our without meds. I put it down to age, as the same happened to my father who suffers as I do. Only MDD remained.
In 2013 it totally pooped out and I had the deepest darkest depression I have ever felt. So bad that it made me vomit a few times a day. We upped the dose of Aurorix slowly to 1200mg a day which is apparently the limit of my current psychiatrists comfort. At this level it didnt make any difference, and it was starting to make me dizzy anyway. No food reactions though, and I ate absolutely anything (this is not advice, just my experience).
I spent (wasted?) another 3.5 years trying all the new meds including Valdoxan + Aurorix, Brintellix on its own all the way up to 20mg, then Brintellix 10mg + Cymbalta 60mg. The latter combo made me feel like a zombie with about 1 degree of emotions either side of normal. It took 6-12 months and another bout of MDD to realise it wasnt really the cure for me. I also had trials of Seroquel, Modafinil and Lamotrigine as augmentation agents but I cant remember what combos they were in. They also didnt do much. Modafinil got me out of bed functioning, but I wasnt much happier.
Now, after what was an incredibly painless 2.5 week cold turkey off all psych meds (once again, experience, not advice!), I started on Parnate on Wednesday at 10mg, and its now Saturday and Ive increased it to 20mg yesterday. Honestly, I started to feel better within about 3-4 hours. Not cured but calmer. On day 4 and I am beginning to feel like a new man. I am getting up early (not me!), the intrusive dark thoughts are nearly gone, that invisible hand that tries to hold me into the chair whenever I think about doing any housework is getting a lot weaker.
I am also having nearly 0 side effects. No obvious hypotension, slightly difficult to go to sleep, but once asleep I am sleeping well, no nausea. One of the symptoms of my depression was insomnia anyway, so I dont knowThe only thing I have noticed is a mild headache throughout the day, and a slightly upset tummy. However, I was in the middle of an IBS attack when it started so who knows what is irritating my gut. No foods have reacted yet. I have noticed that music is amazing, and when a song I really like comes on I get regular rushes of tingles all over my body. Is this a side effect? As I quite like it :P
My experience with Parnate so far has been nothing short of amazing. Its too early to know if itll last, and Im not completely cured, but Ive gone from being nearly bed bound to jogging within a couple of days. I am excitedly waiting to see what happens after a month on 30mg.
I put my rapid response and lack of side effects down to the fact I spent nearly 10 years on Moclobemide. It feels similar, just a lot quicker and stronger.
If you are in Australia and suffer from hard to treat depression I encourage you to speak to your Psychiatrist about this med. I have had 3 Psychiatrists in my life, and all have been very willing to prescribe MAOI drugs to me after trying the newer meds. It was me that was too scared to start (I had a script for Nardil a year ago and chickened out back then).
Well, apologies for the long post, I hope it helps someone.
poster:slimjim
thread:1050853
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20160609/msgs/1090282.html