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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jclint on October 27, 2004, at 17:22:15
Good evening all. I am currently researching obsessively alternate meds to try. I am currently on 150mg of Effexor for depression/social phobia and am feeling pretty frustrated!! A couple of months back I was set on trying klonopin for my sp, not realising the stigma against such drugs in the UK. I showed some printouts of socialfear.com to my doc and told her about my interest: she responded by calling it an 'evil drug' that she would never prescribe... sigh. Seeing the section about Nardil however, she suggested I try that route. I was not interested at the time and so transferred to a more benzo-liberal doc. After many dragging weeks it looks like the most he will presribe is valium (short term), which doesn't sound too enticing.
So my new option is the old MAOIs. Too be honest I'm mad at myself for being so narrow minded when my old doc offered nardil. But hey we learn! Initially I was repelled as I thought it was just another anti-depressant rather than anti-anxiety, but now I realise the MAOIs are different. I'm struggling to imagine, however, what this means in practical terms. Anyone who has been on effexor and an MAOI, what is different about their noticable effects? Thanks very much, John :)
Better get weaning if I'm going to start...
Posted by King Vultan on October 27, 2004, at 19:28:25
In reply to Effexor's effects vs. MAOIs', posted by jclint on October 27, 2004, at 17:22:15
The biggest difference I noticed was that the emotional aloofness/numbness that was a problem on Effexor was not present with Nardil. I found Nardil to also be much better for my social phobia. For people with a lot of anxiety, Nardil is probably also a better med because of its GABA effects, which is the neurotransmitter system the benzos also work on. I think Nardil probably has worse side effects than Effexor, with a higher incidence of weight gain, a tendency towards hypotension, and more incidence of insomnia. Nardil is notorious for causing orgasm problems, which Effexor can also induce. Both have fairly bad withdrawal symptoms in my experience. I think Effexor's are probably more well known just because it is used so much more.
Todd
Posted by ravenstorm on October 27, 2004, at 20:44:23
In reply to Re: Effexor's effects vs. MAOIs', posted by King Vultan on October 27, 2004, at 19:28:25
What withdrawal effects did you have with nardil? How long were you on it before discontinuing?
Posted by Tepiaca on October 27, 2004, at 21:44:39
In reply to Effexor's effects vs. MAOIs', posted by jclint on October 27, 2004, at 17:22:15
I have tried both . Nardil is better by much in terms of social fobia . Effexor did not do anything . I also prefer the Sexual Side efects of Nardil , because at low doses I don´t feel anything bad , and at higher doses the time can help to overcome anorgasmia . Efexor caused me terrible low libido , with Nardil I have libido.
Effexor did not cause inmsomnia , Nardil did but at 60mg .
In general I consider Nardil superiorJohn is Nardil available in UK ?
wich is the name of the company that manufacture nardil there ?? is it pfizer??THANK YOU!
Tep
Posted by King Vultan on October 27, 2004, at 22:45:58
In reply to Re: king vultan-nardil withdrawal symptoms?, posted by ravenstorm on October 27, 2004, at 20:44:23
> What withdrawal effects did you have with nardil? How long were you on it before discontinuing?
I was on it about five months altogether, gradually working up to 105 mg (7 pills)/day. I tapered down from that dosage at a rate of one pill every three days. I encountered Effexor like withdrawal symptoms at first, such as the weird tinnitus I typically get, plus brain zaps, which I had never experienced before being on Nardil. I don't remember, but there may have been some malaise also. I also experienced horrible REM Rebound near the end of the taper (I never dreamed all the while I was on Nardil), which caused overly vivid dreams and insomnia. Finally, I got this terrible nausea once I was completely off it, and I typically never experience nausea under any circumstances. I did experience a worse withdrawal once dropping Effexor cold turkey from 150 to 0, but this was definitely second worst.
Todd
Posted by jclint on October 28, 2004, at 14:11:21
In reply to Re: Effexor's effects vs. MAOIs' » jclint, posted by Tepiaca on October 27, 2004, at 21:44:39
Thanks for the replies I appreciate it. I'm not too sure about the UK manufacturer, netdoctor.co.uk says 'Hansam' whom I've never heard of. I'm aware that there's some controversy about a new formula for Nardil that isn't suiting everybody, I don't know if it applies in the UK.
I'm leaning more towards Parnate at the moment. It seems less prone to sexual/weight gain SEs. Plus after 2 years of effexor lethargy, I could really do with that stimulating effect!
Posted by jclint on October 29, 2004, at 15:11:41
In reply to Re: king vultan-nardil withdrawal symptoms?, posted by GRACE_MONGAN on October 28, 2004, at 22:25:14
Hmm this is my first day of tapering. I think several weeks of fun await me.
The only positive thing is that I had vitually no side effects when going on effexor, I'm hoping that I'm one of those people with a lower side effect sensitivity.
This is the end of the thread.
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