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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 g_g_g_unit on October 9, 2010, at 23:58:13
Based on archived posts, I know that myself, Ron Hill, Ace and Linkadge have all had less-than-stellar experiences with Parnate. However, it's the only AD that ever improved my baseline attention (I have inattentive ADD), a facet that clomipramine has either failed to improve or potentially made worse. I'm not considering transitioning at this point, though am just curious if there's some people who simply fail to respond to Parnate or if the flatness is some kind of initial side-effect that passes?
Posted by Conundrum on October 10, 2010, at 1:41:15
In reply to Why does Parnate make some people feel so flat?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 9, 2010, at 23:58:13
IDK why. I've heard that complaint from people on askapatient.com who go on to praise the drug for lifting them out of a deep depression.
I've read a couple comments on there saying that nardil cured their anhedonia, which surprised me because it increases serotonin more than parnate, which works more on dopamine. Just goes to show we don't fully understand how these drugs work and that people have different reactions to these drugs.
I wonder if anyone here has found nardil helps more with anhedonia and less mood blunting.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on October 10, 2010, at 1:48:56
In reply to Re: Why does Parnate make some people feel so flat? » g_g_g_unit, posted by Conundrum on October 10, 2010, at 1:41:15
> IDK why. I've heard that complaint from people on askapatient.com who go on to praise the drug for lifting them out of a deep depression.
>
> I've read a couple comments on there saying that nardil cured their anhedonia, which surprised me because it increases serotonin more than parnate, which works more on dopamine. Just goes to show we don't fully understand how these drugs work and that people have different reactions to these drugs.
>
> I wonder if anyone here has found nardil helps more with anhedonia and less mood blunting.I'm not sure that you can quantifiably say that Parnate = more dopaminergic = better for anhedonia. The intensity of the start-up euphoria I experienced on Nardil far exceeded that of Parnate.
Parnate made me engage in more goal-orientated activities and improved my attention-span, but there was less a sensation of wellbeing on the drug. Parnate also made me really introverted and asocial, whereas on Nardil I wanted to be around my friends all the time.
At night, when the amphetamine effect of Parnate wore off but the therapeutic effect had yet to kick in, I would descend into the darkest, emptiest depression I've ever experienced.
I know it sounds strange that I'm reconsidering it after all that but I'm wondering if there's some initial downturn before an improvement comes about. If I fail to tolerate psychostimulants, then Parnate's my only option left really.
Posted by linkadge on October 10, 2010, at 14:55:44
In reply to Re: Why does Parnate make some people feel so flat?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 10, 2010, at 1:48:56
Yeah, parnate made my mood very dark. It made everything super serious, like something really serious was happening (like I was fighting a war or something). The drug did get me up and going, but not in a way that I found particularly comfortable.
In addition, the insomnia was pretty bad. I think that apathy is really just a form of neurological stagnation. Its like a river that has become dammed up. The brain has a symphony of everchanging brain chemistry. If a drug boosts any one neurotransmitter too high it may prevent the natural flow.
Believe it or not, some studies actually link "elevated dopamine" to apathy. Its just like how apathy is can be a side effect from amphetamines.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on October 10, 2010, at 14:59:58
In reply to Re: Why does Parnate make some people feel so flat?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 10, 2010, at 1:48:56
just to add something. The feeling I had on parnate resembled the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Similar symptoms in schizophrenia can be alleviated by neuroleptics (to some extent)
When I went to the hospital (after having a hypertensive crisis) they put me on seroquel (off parnate). All of a sudden my emotions started to open up again.
Too much limbic dopamine just causes inhibition, its not pleasurable.
Linkadge
Posted by g_g_g_unit on October 13, 2010, at 3:41:48
In reply to Re: Why does Parnate make some people feel so flat?, posted by linkadge on October 10, 2010, at 14:59:58
> just to add something. The feeling I had on parnate resembled the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Similar symptoms in schizophrenia can be alleviated by neuroleptics (to some extent)
>
> When I went to the hospital (after having a hypertensive crisis) they put me on seroquel (off parnate). All of a sudden my emotions started to open up again.
>
> Too much limbic dopamine just causes inhibition, its not pleasurable.
>
> LinkadgeThat pretty much sums up my experience. I remember going away on a trip with some friends shortly after beginning the drug and was near-catatonic the whole time. Coincidentally, Seroquel also restored my emotions!
I'd be curious in hearing others' experiences, i.e. whether the effects differed according to dose or time spent on the drug or whatever. The reason I ask is because it's the only AD that has ever improved my attention, and my psychologist has said she's seen cases where it was also able to help severe, treatment-refractory OCD.
This is the end of the thread.
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