![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 pedr on May 25, 2011, at 22:02:50
Hi babblers,
I'm on 90mg Nardil and it makes me very tired during the day. So much so that I fall asleep at my desk at work quite frequently. So I've been trying stimulating meds to combat this:- provigil : worked well at first, well-tolerated. Also helped my focus at work. Stopped working after a few weeks.
- ritalin : is fine as long as the blood levels are increasing - keeps me awake. But as soon as the levels start dropping, I get horrid anxiety and feel grim. I've tried taking multiple doses to combat the anxiety but it doesn't seem to help. Also seems to worsen my OCD.
- concerta : much the same as ritalin except 15 times as expensive...
- caffeine : I drink as much strong tea as humanly possible! doesn't help one iota
- adderall : nearly killed me it interacted so strongly with the Nardil, I had a massive BP spike from just 2.5mg!My PDoc thinks that Wellbutrin and Abilify are not suitable due to their activating properties. I've tried both but before I was on Nardil and indeed found them anxiety-provoking (my main Dx is OCD).
Does anyone know any other stimulants I can try? I'm kinda sick of feeling like a slow, sleepy tortoise all day (with OCD) :(
pedr
Posted by jms600 on May 26, 2011, at 18:32:43
In reply to Staying awake on Nardil, posted by pedr on May 25, 2011, at 22:02:50
> Hi babblers,
> I'm on 90mg Nardil and it makes me very tired during the day. So much so that I fall asleep at my desk at work quite frequently. So I've been trying stimulating meds to combat this:
>
> - provigil : worked well at first, well-tolerated. Also helped my focus at work. Stopped working after a few weeks.
> - ritalin : is fine as long as the blood levels are increasing - keeps me awake. But as soon as the levels start dropping, I get horrid anxiety and feel grim. I've tried taking multiple doses to combat the anxiety but it doesn't seem to help. Also seems to worsen my OCD.
> - concerta : much the same as ritalin except 15 times as expensive...
> - caffeine : I drink as much strong tea as humanly possible! doesn't help one iota
> - adderall : nearly killed me it interacted so strongly with the Nardil, I had a massive BP spike from just 2.5mg!
>
> My PDoc thinks that Wellbutrin and Abilify are not suitable due to their activating properties. I've tried both but before I was on Nardil and indeed found them anxiety-provoking (my main Dx is OCD).
>
> Does anyone know any other stimulants I can try? I'm kinda sick of feeling like a slow, sleepy tortoise all day (with OCD) :(
>
> pedrIt's just a thought but what about reducing the dose or switching to Parnate or Marplan??
Posted by atypical on May 27, 2011, at 8:05:30
In reply to Re: Staying awake on Nardil, posted by jms600 on May 26, 2011, at 18:32:43
Reducing the dose would be the most direct solution of course. However, there's a risk of increasing OCD symptoms. You could try taking one-fourth of a pill less than 90mg. I take one-fourth pill less than 75mg and that helps reduce side effects a bit.
A pill cutter is a great tool to have!
Atypical
> It's just a thought but what about reducing the dose or switching to Parnate or Marplan??
>
>
Posted by pedr on May 28, 2011, at 9:14:50
In reply to Re: Staying awake on Nardil, posted by jms600 on May 26, 2011, at 18:32:43
Yes reducing dose is an option but I have to admit, it's an option that scares me.
I haven't tried parnate but since my dominant Dx/problem is OCD and anxiety, I've always thought it would be too activating.Has anyone tried taking *loads* of caffeine? I get mine from tea, lots of tea but I don't really know how much caffeine that is.
Pete
Posted by pedr on May 29, 2011, at 22:11:16
In reply to Re: Staying awake on Nardil » jms600, posted by pedr on May 28, 2011, at 9:14:50
BTW I bought some caffeine pills and am having some success (early days yet). I still get the crushing tiredness and urge to sleep but the caffeine does seem to help with keeping those eyelids open. Far from ideal but I'll take any help I can get!
Posted by jaclinhyde on May 31, 2011, at 17:30:38
In reply to Staying awake on Nardil, posted by pedr on May 25, 2011, at 22:02:50
> Hi babblers,
> I'm on 90mg Nardil and it makes me very tired during the day. So much so that I fall asleep at my desk at work quite frequently. So I've been trying stimulating meds to combat this:
>
> - provigil : worked well at first, well-tolerated. Also helped my focus at work. Stopped working after a few weeks.
> - ritalin : is fine as long as the blood levels are increasing - keeps me awake. But as soon as the levels start dropping, I get horrid anxiety and feel grim. I've tried taking multiple doses to combat the anxiety but it doesn't seem to help. Also seems to worsen my OCD.
> - concerta : much the same as ritalin except 15 times as expensive...
> - caffeine : I drink as much strong tea as humanly possible! doesn't help one iota
> - adderall : nearly killed me it interacted so strongly with the Nardil, I had a massive BP spike from just 2.5mg!
>
> My PDoc thinks that Wellbutrin and Abilify are not suitable due to their activating properties. I've tried both but before I was on Nardil and indeed found them anxiety-provoking (my main Dx is OCD).
>
> Does anyone know any other stimulants I can try? I'm kinda sick of feeling like a slow, sleepy tortoise all day (with OCD) :(
>
> pedrTake it from someone with Narcolepsy, being sleepy during the day is hell (as you know.) Here's my suggestions for what they are worth...
Switch to Parnate (another Maoi) which is much more activating than any of the other maoi's.
Add in Daytrana which is a patch version of methylphenidate and is assimilated much more evenly and smoothly.
I don't get why your doc doesn't want to use Wellbutrin because it is "too activating." You really won't find any stimulant that will keep you awake and NOT be activating. I guess you just need to find that sweet spot. Wellbutrin is a good fit with Nardil but NOT the generic which can actually make you more depressed, it is so poorly made. Have you tried the XL version? Again, it is a bit more smooth than regular Wellbutrin.
Good luck to you!
Terri
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.