![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:14:14
Does anyone know if this is to be expected? Only two are elevated, SGOT and SGPT. One is only 1 point above normal, the other is 15 points above the normal range. My doctor (my internist) doesn't seem too concerned at this point but he is having me return for another liver panel four weeks from now to see if it has gotten better, worse or stayed the same. He said that if it weren't any worse, he wouldn't worry too much about it.
I admit I'm a bit worried about it. I don't know what happens to you if your liver enzymes are elevated. And I worry that if they continue to elevate, somebody is going to tell me to get off Nardil, which I'm not willing to do. To tell you the truth, my liver can elevate its enzymes all it wants to but I'm not going off Nardil. I might be willing to lower the dose from 45mg to 30 but I am NOT going to descend into hell again, no matter what my liver does.
Do I need to be worried? What happens if your liver enzymes are elevated? Will I have symptoms? What would they be? Will it permanently damage my liver?
Thanks for any help
Marsha
Posted by bulldog2 on April 25, 2008, at 15:40:24
In reply to Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:14:14
> Does anyone know if this is to be expected? Only two are elevated, SGOT and SGPT. One is only 1 point above normal, the other is 15 points above the normal range. My doctor (my internist) doesn't seem too concerned at this point but he is having me return for another liver panel four weeks from now to see if it has gotten better, worse or stayed the same. He said that if it weren't any worse, he wouldn't worry too much about it.
>
> I admit I'm a bit worried about it. I don't know what happens to you if your liver enzymes are elevated. And I worry that if they continue to elevate, somebody is going to tell me to get off Nardil, which I'm not willing to do. To tell you the truth, my liver can elevate its enzymes all it wants to but I'm not going off Nardil. I might be willing to lower the dose from 45mg to 30 but I am NOT going to descend into hell again, no matter what my liver does.
>
> Do I need to be worried? What happens if your liver enzymes are elevated? Will I have symptoms? What would they be? Will it permanently damage my liver?
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> MarshaTry SAMe or milk thistle. supposed to be good for the liver.
Posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:49:54
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by bulldog2 on April 25, 2008, at 15:40:24
Hi,
thanks so much for reminding me about milk thistle. I knew about it but had completely forgotten. I iwill buy some tomorrow.
Marsha
Posted by bulldog2 on April 25, 2008, at 16:17:25
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil » bulldog2, posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:49:54
> Hi,
>
> thanks so much for reminding me about milk thistle. I knew about it but had completely forgotten. I iwill buy some tomorrow.
>
> MarshaMake sure you get a strong standardized version and that should take care of your problems with your liver.
Posted by Phillipa on April 25, 2008, at 16:20:00
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil » bulldog2, posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:49:54
Marsha oh dear!!!! If your doc is not concerned I'd wait the four weeks but make sure anything else isn't contraindicated with nardil. If there was permanent damage later you'd maybe see yellowing of eyeballs and skin jaundice. Mine were elevated very high two summers ago and it was from a slight bout of diverticulitis. They went back to normal again. Write if have time. Love Phillipa
Posted by bulldog2 on April 25, 2008, at 17:04:01
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil » 4WD, posted by Phillipa on April 25, 2008, at 16:20:00
> Marsha oh dear!!!! If your doc is not concerned I'd wait the four weeks but make sure anything else isn't contraindicated with nardil. If there was permanent damage later you'd maybe see yellowing of eyeballs and skin jaundice. Mine were elevated very high two summers ago and it was from a slight bout of diverticulitis. They went back to normal again. Write if have time. Love Phillipa
I would listen to your doctor and retest later to make sure it's not getting worse. Don't give in to fear as some are paranoid of meds.
Posted by bleauberry on April 25, 2008, at 17:41:45
In reply to Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:14:14
The best thing for your liver is Milk Thistle. Get a good brand extract with specified amounts of the active ingredient. Milk Thistle is an all around liver protector and rejuvenator. Check out abstracts at pubmed to see what I mean. While most herbs have a lot of anecdotal evidence and folklore attached to them, Milk Thistle is a proven liver performer. I am not aware of any contraindications with any drugs. Someone else mentioned SAMe. That too is good for liver but I would be worried about that one. SAMe is also used to treat depression because it somehow acts to enhance serotonin and dopamine levels. That could be unsafe with Nardil.
Even though my doctor is an MD and not a naturopath, he gives Milk Thistle to many of his patients. The herb even repairs damage done by alcoholics.
Posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 19:52:28
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by bleauberry on April 25, 2008, at 17:41:45
Thanks for all the responses. I am not going to worry too much about the liver enzymes until retesting in 4 weeks.
In the meantime, I am buying milk thistle tomorrow. I had known it was good for the liver but had forgotten all about it. Thanks to you guys for reminding me.
I don't know what I'd do without you.
Marsha
Posted by bulldog2 on April 26, 2008, at 19:21:54
In reply to Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:14:14
> Does anyone know if this is to be expected? Only two are elevated, SGOT and SGPT. One is only 1 point above normal, the other is 15 points above the normal range. My doctor (my internist) doesn't seem too concerned at this point but he is having me return for another liver panel four weeks from now to see if it has gotten better, worse or stayed the same. He said that if it weren't any worse, he wouldn't worry too much about it.
>
> I admit I'm a bit worried about it. I don't know what happens to you if your liver enzymes are elevated. And I worry that if they continue to elevate, somebody is going to tell me to get off Nardil, which I'm not willing to do. To tell you the truth, my liver can elevate its enzymes all it wants to but I'm not going off Nardil. I might be willing to lower the dose from 45mg to 30 but I am NOT going to descend into hell again, no matter what my liver does.
>
> Do I need to be worried? What happens if your liver enzymes are elevated? Will I have symptoms? What would they be? Will it permanently damage my liver?
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> MarshaThe liver is very resiliant and can repair itself once the chemical irritating it is stopped?
Have had dogs on prednisone which elevates all the liver enzymes (very high) and they went down to normal once the pred was stopped.
Posted by Phillipa on April 26, 2008, at 20:06:53
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by bulldog2 on April 26, 2008, at 19:21:54
Bulldog what if it's the nardil? Marsha just asking. Love Phillipa
Posted by bulldog2 on April 26, 2008, at 20:14:40
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil » bulldog2, posted by Phillipa on April 26, 2008, at 20:06:53
> Bulldog what if it's the nardil? Marsha just asking. Love Phillipa
Phillipe you obviously didn't read my other posts. I don't understand your post. I know it's the nardil and i never said it wasn't. Please read my other responses and other people's posts. We offered her solutions so she can stay on Nardil. Her doc is not concerned. Obviously if her values continue going up she would have to discontinue. Just no need to panic at this moment.
Posted by Phillipa on April 26, 2008, at 21:03:25
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by bulldog2 on April 26, 2008, at 20:14:40
Bulldog why would I panic? Phillipa
Posted by 4WD on April 27, 2008, at 8:18:23
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil » bulldog2, posted by Phillipa on April 26, 2008, at 21:03:25
I'm not really that worried about the enzymes. I have started taking milk thistle to protect my liver and if that doesn't work, I'll try methionine. If all else fails, I will lower my dose of Nardil but there is no way I'm getting off it. I just emerged from 4 years of hell into the light and I AM NOT going back, liver enzymes or not.
Marsha
Posted by egg on January 22, 2009, at 18:25:28
In reply to Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil, posted by 4WD on April 25, 2008, at 15:14:14
Am attempting to bring this thread back to life given my recent ALT and AST readings, which were approximately 9 times what they should have been -- and I'm asking for help. There's a big chance I'm going to be taken off Nardil and I have no idea where to go next.
A bit of background: Nardil is the only med that's ever controlled my PD. I've been taking it almost nonstop since 1984 (having lost two years of my life while doctors had me go the round of tricyclics and anti-p's). I couldn't walk in 1-inch heels without getting dizzy, wasn't able to complete sentences, had to stop working ... I lost everything.
Nardil's effects were immediate for me, although it took a good decade to crawl back to a mostly mainstream life.
Over the years I've attempted to go off Nardil completely, tried Knonopin alone (which I've taken with Nardil since 2003), and almost lost a job during a terrible experience with an SSRI (Paxil -- which worsened my insomnia, made my head feel like it was in a vise, and had me in a perpetual state of anxiety and heartburn).
I am currently under a great deal of work and health-related stress, know I need to find a new primary care physician -- one who is more empathetic with "P" patients than the one I've been seeing -- and am also searching for a new therapist. (I usually see a therapist on a short term basis when I'm under stress, like now. My last one disappeared. Really.)
Meanwhile, what med options are out there? I have enough Nardil for about three months and I need a game plan. I am seeing a homeopath and it's been my hope to get off Nardil eventually, but only when I am ready. I refuse to go back to where I was pre-Nardil. Ever.
Insight? Options?
I've been reading the boards since there was a Web, but I stopped posting years ago. I will not let that be the case again.
Posted by 4WD on January 22, 2009, at 21:58:28
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help?, posted by egg on January 22, 2009, at 18:25:28
There are a couple of things you could try. I took milk thistle (helps protect the liver against drugs) and for a while also took L-methionine (also protects the liver). I have heard that N-acetylcysteine also protects the liver but have never actually used that one since it's only available in health food places and not all of them at that. It's harder to find. But if you start on the milk thistle and L-Methionine, that should help.
Your post was actually encouraging to me - to find that Nardil has worked so succesfully for you for so long. One of the problems I had with SSRIs and SNRIs is that they all eventually pooped out. I have been on Nardil twice now. Last year I took it for about six months and felt during the last month that it wasn't working as well (and got tired of waking at 3 or 4 am. and got tired of the low blood pressure spells as well) so I decided to go off it and tried Cybalta for a while. It wasn't until I went off the Nardil that I realized how much it HAD been helping so about 3 months ago I went back on it. It isn't working right now but that's because I haven't given it a chance. I broke my back last year and after three years clean from opiate abuse, I had to be exposed to narcotics again because of the excruciating pain. That set off the whole addiction cycle again and I've been battling with it ever since. I know Nardil can't do its job properly with the narcotics on board but everytime I try to get through withdrawal I become severely depressed by the second or third day - even with Nardil. But I believe that when I have been clean a couple of months, the Nardil will begin to work again.
Hope the herbal suggestions help. Milk thistle can be found at most any pharmacy and L-methionine at larger ones or the GNC store.
Marsha
> Am attempting to bring this thread back to life given my recent ALT and AST readings, which were approximately 9 times what they should have been -- and I'm asking for help. There's a big chance I'm going to be taken off Nardil and I have no idea where to go next.
>
> A bit of background: Nardil is the only med that's ever controlled my PD. I've been taking it almost nonstop since 1984 (having lost two years of my life while doctors had me go the round of tricyclics and anti-p's). I couldn't walk in 1-inch heels without getting dizzy, wasn't able to complete sentences, had to stop working ... I lost everything.
>
> Nardil's effects were immediate for me, although it took a good decade to crawl back to a mostly mainstream life.
>
> Over the years I've attempted to go off Nardil completely, tried Knonopin alone (which I've taken with Nardil since 2003), and almost lost a job during a terrible experience with an SSRI (Paxil -- which worsened my insomnia, made my head feel like it was in a vise, and had me in a perpetual state of anxiety and heartburn).
>
> I am currently under a great deal of work and health-related stress, know I need to find a new primary care physician -- one who is more empathetic with "P" patients than the one I've been seeing -- and am also searching for a new therapist. (I usually see a therapist on a short term basis when I'm under stress, like now. My last one disappeared. Really.)
>
> Meanwhile, what med options are out there? I have enough Nardil for about three months and I need a game plan. I am seeing a homeopath and it's been my hope to get off Nardil eventually, but only when I am ready. I refuse to go back to where I was pre-Nardil. Ever.
>
> Insight? Options?
>
> I've been reading the boards since there was a Web, but I stopped posting years ago. I will not let that be the case again.
Posted by egg on January 23, 2009, at 21:02:43
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help? » egg, posted by 4WD on January 22, 2009, at 21:58:28
> There are a couple of things you could try. I took milk thistle (helps protect the liver against drugs) and for a while also took L-methionine (also protects the liver). I have heard that N-acetylcysteine also protects the liver but have never actually used that one since it's only available in health food places and not all of them at that. It's harder to find. But if you start on the milk thistle and L-Methionine, that should help.
Thanks for your response, 4WD. Have been working with a homeopath for about a month now and she believes she can get my readings down and/or get me off Nardil completely. I trust her -- and I trust the group she works with. She's an MD who chose homeopathy based on a few things (which she's alluded to but hasn't detailed). I've know about the milk thistle for awhile now -- but not about N-acetylcysteine or L-Methionine. Will pass this onto her when I see her on Friday. I am taking a few other things and having lymphatic drainage (got me some seriously swollen lymph nodes -- but this is nothing new).
A sort-of aside: I scheduled myself for the "liver doc's" blood tests on Monday. I think it might be best ti reschedule for next Saturday, since I have an appt with my homeopath the day before. Will pass this by my homeopathic doc via email and see what she says.
RE: Nardil's success (and my obvious concern). This was truly a miracle for me, given a horrible prognosis. Lots of details, too many to cite here, but certainly well known to all of us who lived with multiple PAs running and ruining our lives each day.
Life has not been smooth sailing, by any means. I lost friends during the two-year period pre-Nardil(heck -- who wants to be around someone who's world is so very small), gained compassion for others in a new way and continue to do some advocacy / volunteer work, had to go through a few useless shrinks until I found one who was open-minded enough to worth with me -- and I've lived through Nardil's outsourcing (and what I believe has compromised its integrity). All batches are not the same, and that's been the case since about 2003. Working closely with one pharmacist, returning particularly offensive smelling bottles -- that's what it's taken me to keep going. I need to take entire days off, which I spend in bed, but have been able to keep such information away from those who would judge me for doing so. Stress and lack of sleep -- those days in bed are necessary. (I consider this "honoring the Sabbath" -- which is how I explain it to others ...)
I'm open to alternatives, as there is a good chance that so many years on this med has hurt my liver. Who knows? I ate an entire jar of peanut butter and a bag of dried fruit prior to my first blood tests, which was what got me passed onto the liver doc. The liver doc doesn't believe that what I ingested compromised the outcome, but I believe it did.
I have been experiencing weird headaches / neckaches for some time, and might have had a hypertensive reaction last Fall. It's difficult to tell, since I only had one full blown hypertensive reaction -- and that was within a year of taking Nardil. It landed me in the ER.
I've worked for many years at a computer, so head and neckaches could be a result of that.
I sense that Nardil worked immediately for me given a few things: the integrity of the manufacturer in the 1980s and my body's need for the stuff. Life has not been kind since then. I've often had to skirt around things and make excuses (i.e., e.g., being late for work, due to a sleep disorder that Nardil definitely makes worse). That I've been able to make rationale decisions through some very stressful situations (a fire that wiped out most of what I owned, being the primary caregiver during a parent's death) -- I mean, I feel so grateful.
I have never taken Nardil for granted and have feared "this day" ever since it first worked within 24 hours. I have no desire to get on a plane, I avoid escalators that are extremely steep and elevators that are open. I also can't drive over high extension bridges. Significantly open space evoke inexplicable fear in me and I end up with hysterical paralysis. I can live with these limitations.
My life isn't too terrific right now. A long-term friendship is ending and my job (not work) is a bit too political and much too stressful. If I can get through this I'm certainly going to look into a position that enables me to combine my advocacy work with what I'm paid to do professionally. I feel a bit more hopeful than I did yesterday, however.
Seeing a homeopath at this point is so odd -- I mean, I tried alternative treatments before I let go became willing to do anything to get rid of the PAs that were running and ruining my life.
Hope the above helps. Let me know if you want to exchange email. Have dealt a lot with the sleep problems and doubt that I'll ever be able to leave them behind completely -- and yet, I've found some tools.
Am necessarily editing the above as I need to be careful given my current job. I need this gig to pay for all this alternative stuff!
Posted by bulldog2 on January 24, 2009, at 14:06:22
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help?, posted by egg on January 23, 2009, at 21:02:43
> > There are a couple of things you could try. I took milk thistle (helps protect the liver against drugs) and for a while also took L-methionine (also protects the liver). I have heard that N-acetylcysteine also protects the liver but have never actually used that one since it's only available in health food places and not all of them at that. It's harder to find. But if you start on the milk thistle and L-Methionine, that should help.
>
> Thanks for your response, 4WD. Have been working with a homeopath for about a month now and she believes she can get my readings down and/or get me off Nardil completely. I trust her -- and I trust the group she works with. She's an MD who chose homeopathy based on a few things (which she's alluded to but hasn't detailed). I've know about the milk thistle for awhile now -- but not about N-acetylcysteine or L-Methionine. Will pass this onto her when I see her on Friday. I am taking a few other things and having lymphatic drainage (got me some seriously swollen lymph nodes -- but this is nothing new).
>
> A sort-of aside: I scheduled myself for the "liver doc's" blood tests on Monday. I think it might be best ti reschedule for next Saturday, since I have an appt with my homeopath the day before. Will pass this by my homeopathic doc via email and see what she says.
>
> RE: Nardil's success (and my obvious concern). This was truly a miracle for me, given a horrible prognosis. Lots of details, too many to cite here, but certainly well known to all of us who lived with multiple PAs running and ruining our lives each day.
>
> Life has not been smooth sailing, by any means. I lost friends during the two-year period pre-Nardil(heck -- who wants to be around someone who's world is so very small), gained compassion for others in a new way and continue to do some advocacy / volunteer work, had to go through a few useless shrinks until I found one who was open-minded enough to worth with me -- and I've lived through Nardil's outsourcing (and what I believe has compromised its integrity). All batches are not the same, and that's been the case since about 2003. Working closely with one pharmacist, returning particularly offensive smelling bottles -- that's what it's taken me to keep going. I need to take entire days off, which I spend in bed, but have been able to keep such information away from those who would judge me for doing so. Stress and lack of sleep -- those days in bed are necessary. (I consider this "honoring the Sabbath" -- which is how I explain it to others ...)
>
> I'm open to alternatives, as there is a good chance that so many years on this med has hurt my liver. Who knows? I ate an entire jar of peanut butter and a bag of dried fruit prior to my first blood tests, which was what got me passed onto the liver doc. The liver doc doesn't believe that what I ingested compromised the outcome, but I believe it did.
>
> I have been experiencing weird headaches / neckaches for some time, and might have had a hypertensive reaction last Fall. It's difficult to tell, since I only had one full blown hypertensive reaction -- and that was within a year of taking Nardil. It landed me in the ER.
>
> I've worked for many years at a computer, so head and neckaches could be a result of that.
>
> I sense that Nardil worked immediately for me given a few things: the integrity of the manufacturer in the 1980s and my body's need for the stuff. Life has not been kind since then. I've often had to skirt around things and make excuses (i.e., e.g., being late for work, due to a sleep disorder that Nardil definitely makes worse). That I've been able to make rationale decisions through some very stressful situations (a fire that wiped out most of what I owned, being the primary caregiver during a parent's death) -- I mean, I feel so grateful.
>
> I have never taken Nardil for granted and have feared "this day" ever since it first worked within 24 hours. I have no desire to get on a plane, I avoid escalators that are extremely steep and elevators that are open. I also can't drive over high extension bridges. Significantly open space evoke inexplicable fear in me and I end up with hysterical paralysis. I can live with these limitations.
>
> My life isn't too terrific right now. A long-term friendship is ending and my job (not work) is a bit too political and much too stressful. If I can get through this I'm certainly going to look into a position that enables me to combine my advocacy work with what I'm paid to do professionally. I feel a bit more hopeful than I did yesterday, however.
>
> Seeing a homeopath at this point is so odd -- I mean, I tried alternative treatments before I let go became willing to do anything to get rid of the PAs that were running and ruining my life.
>
> Hope the above helps. Let me know if you want to exchange email. Have dealt a lot with the sleep problems and doubt that I'll ever be able to leave them behind completely -- and yet, I've found some tools.
>
> Am necessarily editing the above as I need to be careful given my current job. I need this gig to pay for all this alternative stuff!I'm not big on alternative medicine. I've spend a fortune on treatments that didn't work. See if sam-e and nac work. Get them from a health food store. Don't eat before your blood test and do a liver retest. If you google the internet there are probably liver flush formulas. Read up on diet and the liver and see if there are foods that are hard on the liver.
Posted by desolationrower on January 25, 2009, at 12:24:19
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help?, posted by bulldog2 on January 24, 2009, at 14:06:22
soy lecithin is dirt cheap and good for the liver, as well.
-d/r
Posted by egg on January 31, 2009, at 20:39:51
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help?, posted by desolationrower on January 25, 2009, at 12:24:19
Just a thanks for and a response to everyone else's responses (and also an update):
Decided to detach a bit from my fears and look at this within a larger context. Heck, I'm not supposed to be happy about the high ALT and AST ...
In any case, I had the follow-up auto-immune and liver blood work performed today. I'd decreased the amount of Nardil I was taking to 15 mg and 30 mg (alternating days) and sticking with current dose of Klonopin (1.5mg). Am also taking ViroStop (can order online) and a few Homeopathic things.
Yup, decreasing the Nardil is radical. It's Winter and I am under a lot of stress for other reasons. Still, I wouldn't mind a flush out for a week or two. (I have calmed down a bit ...)
My homeopath doc has all of your enzyme lowering suggestions and we're looking at options for lowering the numbers. She has been successful in the past and I believe she will be again. Will share anything I can find out when she shares it with me.
Have also been doing a minor cleansing thing with a rice protein powder(UltraCleanse) -- nothing radical -- and enjoying hot Castor oil compresses in the evening. Lymph nodes around my neck have been bothering me and oddly enough this is a good thing. (Prior to starting lymphatic drainage massage and a few other back of head / neck ache symptoms, the pain there seemed like one big mass.)
Will let you know about my results when I get them.
Thanks for being here.
Posted by egg on February 7, 2009, at 16:00:37
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help?, posted by egg on January 31, 2009, at 20:39:51
Just want to check in and post test results per follow-up blood work: all liver tests came back negative. Docs says there's nothing wrong with my livers. (I rec'd a copy of the results and have shared it with homeopath doc, as well.)
What came up of concern was my white blood cell count -- under "3" (where 3.8 = bottom line for concern). Homeopath isn't responding at the moment. The liver doc is going to call by mid-week.
On the good side: My cholesterol is great. Hey -- who would have guessed, since I've been counting the process of breathing in and out as exercise lately.
It's also day 5 off Nardil. Klonopin holding at 1.5mg per day.
Anyone have a magic wand?
Posted by 4WD on February 8, 2009, at 22:53:55
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help, posted by egg on February 7, 2009, at 16:00:37
Hi,
That's great news about your liver. That was a serious concern and now you don't have to worry about it anymore. I don't know what to say about the white cell count. Did they tell you any reasons why it might be low? What happens if it gets too low? I know that too high = infection but I've no experience with too low a white count. Is your red count normal?
Glad you are doing okay off the Nardil. Were you stopping it because of the elevated liver enzymes? If so, and you start to get depressed at all, I'd go straight back on it. Unless they think the low white count is to blame on the Nardil. But I've never heard of Nardil causing a low blood count.
When you stopped the Nardil, did you stop it cold turkey or did you taper at all? My addictionologist said that since I am doing so well on the Suboxone, I might be able to get off the Nardil. I'd love to if I could do it without getting depressed. The Suboxone so far is taking care of the depression, but I don't know how I'd be without Nardil on board. Suboxone negates one of my major side effects from Nardil - the waking up at 3 or 4am and not being able to go back to sleep. Only other side effects are low BP spells, which I deal with by drinking salt water daily, and an overall increase in BP. But I'd like to be off it just because there are so many drug interactions and the dietary restrictions.
Anyway, keep us posted on what you find out. I most especially want to know why the low white count and about the tapering.
Love,
Marsha> Just want to check in and post test results per follow-up blood work: all liver tests came back negative. Docs says there's nothing wrong with my livers. (I rec'd a copy of the results and have shared it with homeopath doc, as well.)
>
> What came up of concern was my white blood cell count -- under "3" (where 3.8 = bottom line for concern). Homeopath isn't responding at the moment. The liver doc is going to call by mid-week.
>
> On the good side: My cholesterol is great. Hey -- who would have guessed, since I've been counting the process of breathing in and out as exercise lately.
>
> It's also day 5 off Nardil. Klonopin holding at 1.5mg per day.
>
> Anyone have a magic wand?
Posted by Phillipa on February 8, 2009, at 23:19:09
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help, posted by 4WD on February 8, 2009, at 22:53:55
Marsha sounds like you're doing well. So glad and hope to hear from you.Love Phillipa
Posted by 4WD on February 8, 2009, at 23:56:32
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help » 4WD, posted by Phillipa on February 8, 2009, at 23:19:09
Have sent you Babblemail. Yes, I am doing better and better. Most of the physical symptoms of withdrawal are getting better and no depression either. If I had tried to stop on my own, I couldn't have done it. I've tried over 25 times to quit but get into such severe depression that I would have already gone running back to the doctor for more drugs by now if it weren't for the Suboxone.
And no depression either.
Marsha
Posted by Phillipa on February 9, 2009, at 0:14:55
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help » Phillipa, posted by 4WD on February 8, 2009, at 23:56:32
Yup got the e-mails and replied already so happy for you. Love Jan
Posted by egg on February 12, 2009, at 21:29:19
In reply to Re: Liver enzymes elevated due to Nardil --- Help, posted by egg on February 7, 2009, at 16:00:37
More follow-up: None of the doctors (traditional and homeopath) are concerned about the low white blood cell count. Oh, well. Still no Nardil; still holding on usual Klonopin.
Liver tests to be repeated in a few weeks. Thanks again for all of your responses.
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.