Posted by King Vultan on November 13, 2004, at 11:04:06
In reply to Parnate (or other MAOI's) and Sleep Disturbances, posted by AudreyE on November 13, 2004, at 10:15:08
> Hello!
>
> I've been taking Parnate for 2 months, and it's effectively ended 15+ years of chronic depression. I've had very few side-effects, compared to those I've experienced on other anti-depressants, *except* that I've had horrible insomnia at night and, oddly enough, terrible sleepiness between 2-6 in the afternoon.
>
> I've read a few posts on other forums that suggest this pattern has happened to others. I am dangerous between the hours of 2-6, and I can barely stay awake on my feet, let alone drive a car. Then, around 10 pm, I'm wide awake until 5 am.
>
> Has anyone else experienced sleep disturbanes with MAOIs, and what has your doctor suggested?
>
> (My doctor is, btw, the worst doc I've ever had, and I get no help from him with anything. I have appointments coming up with new docs, but, of course, I can't get in until January or February.)
>
> Thanks!
I'm on Parnate also and was on Nardil before that. Both drugs have given me severe insomnia, with the Parnate being worse. I was experiencing the afternoon sedation you describe while on Nardil until I started using triazolam/Halcion every other night instead of the Benadryl I had been using every night for sleep, and the increased number of hours and improved quality of sleep quickly eliminated the problem. As in some other situations where people are excessively sleepy during the day, sleep apnea being a good example, my opinion is that the notorious MAOI afternoon sedation problem results from either not getting enough sleep or enough quality sleep. However, finding a sleep med or combination of meds that work can still be a problem, given how bad MAOI insomnia can be. What have you tried so far for your insomnia?Todd
poster:King Vultan
thread:415403
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041113/msgs/415412.html