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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tori on October 18, 2000, at 5:13:40
Hi again,
Have been on Parnate now for a little over a month, 10 mg bid, currently 6 a.m. and noon.
My psychiatrist increased the dosage to 40 mg today because of the lethargy and the hopes that it may stop the insomnia.
I have heard that some side effects are worse at lower dosages, or at higher dosages; nevertheless I am afraid of what it will do to my sleeping patterns. I get maybe three hours of sleep then wide awake, like tonight. I have to go to work in three hours; I have had three hours of sleep tonight. Today I almost fell asleep in the bathroom at work.
QUESTION -- if I take Parnate before I go to bed, then at 6 a.m. when I wake up, would it make much of a difference? I don't know how long the stimulating effects last for; all I know is that during the day I am still LETHARGIC and even though I am exhausted my brain is VERY active and it makes me unable to sleep.
I have stopped taking Restoril (was up to 90 mg) and am starting Zoplicone tomorrow, but I want to stop taking sleeping pills alltogether.
I no longer take clonazepam during the day as yes, I find it now extremely sedating, but at night it really doesnt do anything to help me sleep. I build up tolerances to medications quite fast.
Any suggestions as to dosage times? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Best to you all,
Tori :-)
Posted by Sharon J. on October 18, 2000, at 10:03:42
In reply to PARNATE (again) - continued insomnia, posted by Tori on October 18, 2000, at 5:13:40
Hi, Tori:
I'm no doctor, but I was on Parnate for about 9 years and I can tell you my experience with it surrounding sleep. Sounds like you cannot sleep at night, but are having a terrible time staying awake during the day (?) What I know about Parnate, is that if you take it past, say, noon (it all depends on the patient, of course), that it actually has some agent or whatever that will KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT!! SO....follow your doctor's orders on when to take Parnate and how much...there is a reason for it. If you start messing around with times to take it etc. on your own...well, I can tell you that I know that you won't get the result you want. However, I do understand that you are miserable with what you experience (I, too, have fallen asleep in the bathroom on the toilet at work), and I know that you are probably desperate to correct this problem and get back to feeling better and in the mainstream of life again. But, my friend, this will take time. I know that might not be what you want to hear, but trust me...I DO know what you are doing through and it is no fun, frustrating, and again I say...it is going to take some time.Something else that I learned about myself that I relate to in what you shared in your letter that may or may not fit: it sounds like your body clock is reversed, and that is complication in itself. You are sleepy during the day, cannot sleep at night...started out because of depression, et. al, and over time, (maybe a long time?) you are where you are. No? Talk to your Dr. (or therapist if you have one) about getting on a rigid sleep-wake pattern to reprogram your body clock to work in conjunction with your medication. They can advise you on the mechanics of it (and it is very simple) -- but -- this is something that you will have to do all by yourself, and believe me, it is hard! But over time (it took me 9 months of work) you CAN do wonders to help your sleep/wake cycle and MAXIMIZE the benefits of your meds! I used to think that if I took these pills...and if we found the right combination and the right dosage and schedule, that one day I'd be all better! Well, I learned that I gotta do more than just take the pills. I have to really work hard, too! And I'm not saying that you aren't working hard...but sounds like this area is something that I've been through and have truimphed over. So, bottom line: I wish you well and really hope that something in what I said here hit home. Good luck!
Posted by Tori on October 21, 2000, at 9:12:49
In reply to Re: PARNATE (again) - continued insomnia, posted by Sharon J. on October 18, 2000, at 10:03:42
Seems taking the 20 mg bid at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. has done the trick. I am sleeping much better now. Although with the med increase I find my BP shoots up from a low of 80/60 to 154/90 (like last night) when I take it. Thank god I had some adalat on me.
Posted by Sharon J. on October 21, 2000, at 15:27:39
In reply to Re: PARNATE (again) - continued insomnia » Sharon J., posted by Tori on October 21, 2000, at 9:12:49
Glad you found what works for you. My experience was simply my experience (and jived with what some literature said about taking it later in the day.) But, we are all different, and what is true for one person (or what the literature says) is not the same for another. Best to you!
Posted by Michael K on October 21, 2000, at 21:02:56
In reply to Re: PARNATE (again) - continued insomnia » Sharon J., posted by Tori on October 21, 2000, at 9:12:49
> Seems taking the 20 mg bid at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. has done the trick. I am sleeping much better now. Although with the med increase I find my BP shoots up from a low of 80/60 to 154/90 (like last night) when I take it. Thank god I had some adalat on me.
Tori,
I'm glad you are sleeping better on Parnate. However, an increase in blood pressure when you take it is unusual. Generally, MAOI's reduce your blood pressure. Incidentally, many people on Parnate have problems sleeping regardless of what time a day they take it. For example, I find that taking my first dose when I wake up and my other dose about 3:00 pm works best for me. However, I can take it as late as 8:00 pm without sleep problems. It was not that way when I first started the medication, however. It seemed that after about 2:00, I would have problems. Additionally, I think most people need something to get to sleep when they are on Parnate. Trazodone is very popular although a tranquilizer or even Chloryl-hydrate can be used. If you are sleeping without any other medications, that's great.Mike
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