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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lc on January 24, 2000, at 11:52:57
I have a friend (doesn't have access to a computer) who has been
depressed for 10 years ans has tried so many meds, I've stopped
counting. Over the past 2 years he has been taking nardil which has
stopped working for him. He read about Marplan (I think the same as
Marsilid) and is interested in trying that. Any experience with it?
The doctors don't seem to want to try it. He is almost ready to try
mail ordering it (if he can find it). That worries me...
Posted by Cam W. on January 24, 2000, at 23:09:48
In reply to Marsilid, Marplan, Zyprexa, ipronizid, nardil, posted by lc on January 24, 2000, at 11:52:57
> I have a friend (doesn't have access to a computer) who has been
> depressed for 10 years ans has tried so many meds, I've stopped
> counting. Over the past 2 years he has been taking nardil which has
> stopped working for him. He read about Marplan (I think the same as
> Marsilid) and is interested in trying that. Any experience with it?
> The doctors don't seem to want to try it. He is almost ready to try
> mail ordering it (if he can find it). That worries me...Marplan is in the same family as Nardil. It's generic name is isocarboxazid & it is a MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor). If Nardil isn't working the doctor probably is assuming that Marplan will not work either, and the doc is probably right. Marplan is a fairly toxic antidepressant with a lot of side effects and dietary restrictions. It probably is not a good choice for your friend. I don't know this person's drug history, but it can take awhile to find the right antidepressant to treat a person. Tell your friend to stick with his doctor a little bit longer and see if he can't come up with a safer combination of drugs that will work. Good luck -Cam
Posted by jd on January 25, 2000, at 11:41:31
In reply to Re: Marsilid, Marplan, Zyprexa, ipronizid, nardil, posted by Cam W. on January 24, 2000, at 23:09:48
lc,
I'd have to disagree with Cam's post somewhat--Yes, Marplan is in the same medication class as Nardil, but some people DO have a response to Marplan when they're not having much luck with Nardil. (I've seen several posts to this effect on bulletin boards.) And I've never heard anything about Marplan being any *more* dangerous than Nardil--they're both definitely drugs not to take lightly, but if your friend's been taking Nardil he already knows about the dietary restrictions, the warnings about hypertensive crises, and so forth. Marplan was off the market for a long time in the US and was recently reintroduced without too much hassle from the FDA: many doctors (especially those who consider MAOIs simply as "old", "dangerous" drugs) are thus not very familiar with it. It's use may be warranted however in refractory depression with people who have previously responded only to an MAOI.
best,
jd> > I have a friend (doesn't have access to a computer) who has been
> > depressed for 10 years ans has tried so many meds, I've stopped
> > counting. Over the past 2 years he has been taking nardil which has
> > stopped working for him. He read about Marplan (I think the same as
> > Marsilid) and is interested in trying that. Any experience with it?
> > The doctors don't seem to want to try it. He is almost ready to try
> > mail ordering it (if he can find it). That worries me...
>
> Marplan is in the same family as Nardil. It's generic name is isocarboxazid & it is a MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor). If Nardil isn't working the doctor probably is assuming that Marplan will not work either, and the doc is probably right. Marplan is a fairly toxic antidepressant with a lot of side effects and dietary restrictions. It probably is not a good choice for your friend. I don't know this person's drug history, but it can take awhile to find the right antidepressant to treat a person. Tell your friend to stick with his doctor a little bit longer and see if he can't come up with a safer combination of drugs that will work. Good luck -Cam
Posted by Elizabeth on January 25, 2000, at 17:18:41
In reply to Re: Marplan and Nardil, posted by jd on January 25, 2000, at 11:41:31
BTW, Marsilid is an old MAOI -- the first one observed to have antidepressant properties, in the '50s. Its generic name is iproniazid. It's no longer marketed in the U.S. (not sure about other countries) due to concerns about liver damage. Like Marplan and Nardil, it is related to hydrazine.
This is the end of the thread.
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