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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 27 to 51 of 51. Go back in thread:
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 21, 2009, at 13:11:56
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 19, 2009, at 17:00:45
Good questions. Let me try to answer them all as best as I can:
>
> How long did it take you to start feeling effects? (days, weeks?). How long before you started feeling consistantly level?
>I started feeling the lifting of depression almost immediately (just a couple of days) after starting Marplan. It was probably another few weeks to a month before everything really settled in and the consistant levelness kicked in.
> Were you tired in the beginning? If so, how long did it take for your energy level to come back up?
I haven't noticed specific fatigue issues with this drug. Perhaps it makes me a little tired in the afternoons (I'm not so attuned to this kind of thing). At any rate, there is definitely no major fatigue, nor is it energizing.
> Do you feel like it gives you extra energy?
Nope. (see above)
> Did you have any BP problems?
No. My BP does not spike at all (like on Parnate) and it doesn't get so low that I nearly pass out (like on Nardil), though it does get pretty low sometimes (nothing dangerous though).
> Do you have to take something to help you sleep? If so what? (Have tried every med to help with sleep. Nothing helps except a bunch of zanax.)Zero sleep issues here (unlike Parnate, which gave me the most unbelievable insomnia). If anything, it helps me sleep a bit better than usual.
> Did you need to or did you ever take a benzo as backup? I am hoping to be able not to take zanax's if I don't need to.
No, no benzo. I find a mild (not major, certainly not like Nardil) benefit for social anxiety from the drug. But if you do have major anxiety issues, I suppose you may need to take a benzo as well (not sure).
> Since I am a female (I am assuming you are a male), was wondering how it effects libido? Understand if you can't answer that one.
I don't think there are significant libido issues with this drug. Parnate boosted my sex drive, Nardil killed my ability to orgasm. Marplan does neither in any significant way.
> I am 5'2 and weigh 125 lbs. Do you feel like it's one of those drugs that I can keep the weight down with exercise and diet or do you feel like you gain weight regardless of what you do?
I do think it is possible to keep the weight down on this drug with diet and exercise. I am dieting now and not having a problem losing weight while on Marplan. This is very different than my Nardil experience, where I packed on major major weight, despite exercising regularly and watching my food intake.
> I am seeing the pdoc on Feb. 5th and need to choose between parnate or marplan. Am strongly leaning towards the marplan because of BP issues and because I read that parnate can make you more anxietal sometimes. (which I don't need).
Sounds like Marplan could be the right choice for you. If you do have major BP concerns, Parnate probably isn't right for you (I had major BP fluctuations on Parnate). Parnate also did not help (and did make worse) my anxiety and obsessiveness issues. It was very good for depression itself, but anxiety was an issue.
> I apologize for bombarding you like this, but there is not alot info out there on marplan.
Happy to help. Keep the questions coming. I'm definitely one to do a ton of research b/f taking anything new, but there is only so much one can find out about Marplan as so little info exists as far as people's direct personal experiences with the drug.
> I talked to my pharmacist today and he said at regular starting dosage, it would probably cost me about $150.00 per month. Not to bad as I have had to pay alot more for other meds.
>
>
> Can you tell I am desperate for something to work? LOL!!!!
>
> I truly appreciate any responses that you might have. If you can think of anyrhing to tell me that I did not ask, please let me know. I JUST WANT MY ENERGY, MOTIVATION AND LIFE BACK!!!
>
> Thanks, Courtney
>
Posted by Cseagraves on January 21, 2009, at 14:21:38
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » Cseagraves, posted by maoi_wowee on January 21, 2009, at 13:11:56
Maio,
Thanks so much for your responses. Your answers have helped me make this decision alot easier as I think I am going with Marplan.
Please keep me up to date as to how you are feeling or any issues you run into. Do you remember what your starting dose was?
Thanks,
Courtney
Posted by bulldog2 on January 21, 2009, at 15:39:54
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 21, 2009, at 14:21:38
> Maio,
>
> Thanks so much for your responses. Your answers have helped me make this decision alot easier as I think I am going with Marplan.
>
> Please keep me up to date as to how you are feeling or any issues you run into. Do you remember what your starting dose was?
>
> Thanks,
>
> CourtneyYes thank you for all your responses. What is the dosage range and how quickly did you titrate to your current dose.
Thanks
bulldog2
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 22, 2009, at 15:01:04
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 21, 2009, at 14:21:38
feeling or any issues you run into. Do you remember what your starting dose was?
>I ramped my dose up to 70mg a day pretty quickly (over 2 weeks), and eventually felt things out to get to what I believe is my optimal dose of 55mg/day (I have found with all MAOIs that I am best taking a single morning dose).
Your pdoc may want to adjust your dose up slower (or faster) than I did. I think that's fine, the one thing I'd make sure of is that you don't give up on the drug before giving it adequate time at at least 60mg/day (or a lower dose if it works for you).
Good luck and keep us posted!
I'll keep you posted on my progress, but again, it's such a stable drug that I don't anticipate any real changes.
Posted by bulldog2 on January 22, 2009, at 16:49:18
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
> After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
>
> I spent multiple years on Parnate and gave Nardil a long trial; I'm finding Marplan to be the most stable, reliable and (in some ways) most effective of the three (and it certainly has the fewest side-effects).
>
> So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?
Do you eat out at all? If you do what precautions do you take?
Posted by psychobot5000 on January 22, 2009, at 22:12:13
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » psychobot5000, posted by maoi_wowee on January 21, 2009, at 12:52:01
> Take this with a grain of salt as I haven't researched hepatoxicity of Marplan, but I've always found these warnings about potential physical complications from taking MAOIs to be way overblown.
>
> >Yeah, I tend to agree. Nothing 'bad' ever happened to me when I took MAOIs--never ran into any hypotensive crises or anything, and the medical community's warnings always seemed a little hysterical to me concerning that and related issues (though I understand no doctor wants an unnecessary death on their hands). Still, I get the impression that the liver risks with Marplan are somewhat serious--I figure a simple blood-test every few months to keep an eye on it is probably a reasonable thing to do, and not really very inconvenient--just a thought.
Best,
Psychbot
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 22, 2009, at 23:53:59
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by bulldog2 on January 22, 2009, at 16:49:18
I eat out almost exclusively and I don't really take any precautions besides avoiding aged cheeses, which I never liked anyway. In my roughly 4 years now on Parnate, Nardil and Marplan I've never done more than avoid aged cheese and I've never come close to having any issues.
> Do you eat out at all? If you do what precautions do you take?
>
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 22, 2009, at 23:55:55
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » maoi_wowee, posted by psychobot5000 on January 22, 2009, at 22:12:13
Well, I'll definitely make a note of having my primary care doc run the blood tests next time I'm in. Thanks for the advice on that.
>I figure a simple blood-test every few months to keep an eye on it is probably a reasonable thing to do, and not really very inconvenient--just a thought.
>
> Best,
> Psychbot
Posted by desolationrower on January 23, 2009, at 12:42:35
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 18, 2009, at 12:18:31
So what does it do for your anxiety, you said you still have some avoidance, which you didn't on nardil? But better than parnate?
-d/r
Posted by bulldog2 on January 23, 2009, at 16:17:21
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » maoi_wowee, posted by psychobot5000 on January 22, 2009, at 22:12:13
> > Take this with a grain of salt as I haven't researched hepatoxicity of Marplan, but I've always found these warnings about potential physical complications from taking MAOIs to be way overblown.
> >
> > >
>
> Yeah, I tend to agree. Nothing 'bad' ever happened to me when I took MAOIs--never ran into any hypotensive crises or anything, and the medical community's warnings always seemed a little hysterical to me concerning that and related issues (though I understand no doctor wants an unnecessary death on their hands). Still, I get the impression that the liver risks with Marplan are somewhat serious--I figure a simple blood-test every few months to keep an eye on it is probably a reasonable thing to do, and not really very inconvenient--just a thought.
>
> Best,
> PsychbotI cut and pasted this which is about liver protection.
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
Posted by bulldog2 on January 23, 2009, at 16:40:37
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
> After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
>
> I spent multiple years on Parnate and gave Nardil a long trial; I'm finding Marplan to be the most stable, reliable and (in some ways) most effective of the three (and it certainly has the fewest side-effects).
>
> So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?With all the med bashing that goes on this post is a breath of fresh air!
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 23, 2009, at 18:53:57
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by desolationrower on January 23, 2009, at 12:42:35
I definitely still have some social avoidance, but much much much less of this and all anxiety issues than I had on Parnate.
Nardil was absolutely miraculous at first, but over a few months, the positive effects (like elimination of anxiety) began to decrease substantially, so it's a bit hard to compare where I am now with the long-term use of Nardil.
> So what does it do for your anxiety, you said you still have some avoidance, which you didn't on nardil? But better than parnate?
>
> -d/r
Posted by Cseagraves on January 23, 2009, at 20:27:30
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by bulldog2 on January 23, 2009, at 16:17:21
That's cool. I already take milk thistle and have for years.
Thanks again Maoi, you've been a great help. Now if I can only make it until Feb. 5 without meds, except I have zanax on hand.
Courtney :-)
Posted by bulldog2 on January 24, 2009, at 8:00:45
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by Cseagraves on January 23, 2009, at 20:27:30
> That's cool. I already take milk thistle and have for years.
>
> Thanks again Maoi, you've been a great help. Now if I can only make it until Feb. 5 without meds, except I have zanax on hand.
>
> Courtney :-)You might want to add nac or low dose sam-e for extra insurance. Avoid liver unfriendly foods and stick with a liver friendly diet.
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 24, 2009, at 16:35:57
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT!, posted by bulldog2 on January 24, 2009, at 8:00:45
Let me add something that I've realized very clearly over the past couple of days. Marplan definitely does NOT prevent orgasm/ejaculation like Nardil did (though that Nardil side effect began to ease a little bit several months into taking the drug). If anything, Marplan may do the opposite, causing a bit of premature ejaculation/orgasm.
Posted by bulldog2 on January 24, 2009, at 18:12:04
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! (sexual side-effects), posted by maoi_wowee on January 24, 2009, at 16:35:57
> Let me add something that I've realized very clearly over the past couple of days. Marplan definitely does NOT prevent orgasm/ejaculation like Nardil did (though that Nardil side effect began to ease a little bit several months into taking the drug). If anything, Marplan may do the opposite, causing a bit of premature ejaculation/orgasm.
I believe that nardil is serotonin dominant while parnate is dopamine and ne dominant. The sexual side you desribe points to marplan having less impact on serotonin than nardil..
By the way do you eat any lunch meats,,,steak sandwichdes or burger in restaurants???I know you avoid cheese..
Posted by maoi_wowee on January 25, 2009, at 18:40:44
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! (sexual side-effects), posted by bulldog2 on January 24, 2009, at 18:12:04
> By the way do you eat any lunch meats,,,steak sandwichdes or burger in restaurants???I know you avoid cheese..
>Yes, no problems at all with any lunch meats, steak sandwiches, burgers, peperoni on pizza, etc. Some people seem to be more sensitive than others to the tyramine in food thing, but I believe the items you mentioned above are pretty much on everyone's safe lists.
Don't expect your pdoc to give you accurate information about what foods to avoid (search this board instead!).
Posted by desolationrower on January 25, 2009, at 21:23:54
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! (sexual side-effects), posted by maoi_wowee on January 25, 2009, at 18:40:44
thanks for all your data maoi-wowee.
dividing up emotions into positive affect and negative affect, how woudl you say it compares to parnate? you said it might not be quite as good for depression.
-d/r
Posted by Cseagraves on February 6, 2009, at 19:54:34
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
Maoi,
If you can remember, when your pdoc upped your dosage in the beginning from 10mgs per day to 20mgs per day, what times did you take your first and second doses?
Also, what is your dosage up to now?
I'm on day 2 of Marplan and having yukky side effects. Hoping these pass. Can't stand feeling so nauseous. Am assuming that side effects kick in every time dosage is raised?
Thanks,
Courtney
Posted by Cseagraves on February 6, 2009, at 20:14:59
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
Maoi,
If you can remember, when your pdoc upped your dosage in the beginning from 10mgs per day to 20mgs per day, what times did you take your first and second doses?
Also, what is your dosage up to now?
I'm on day 2 of Marplan and having yukky side effects. Hoping these pass. Can't stand feeling so nauseous. Am assuming that side effects kick in every time dosage is raised?
Thanks,
Courtney
Posted by maoi_wowee on February 8, 2009, at 19:15:34
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! ATTN: MAOI !!!, posted by Cseagraves on February 6, 2009, at 20:14:59
Hi
I've always taken my full dose of MAOI's first thing in the morning. My dose was upped from 10mg to 20mg pretty quickly, just a few days. In my experience, MAOI side effects tend to get better at higher doses, so the quicker you can up the dose (within reason) the better...
> Maoi,
>
> If you can remember, when your pdoc upped your dosage in the beginning from 10mgs per day to 20mgs per day, what times did you take your first and second doses?
>
> Also, what is your dosage up to now?
>
> I'm on day 2 of Marplan and having yukky side effects. Hoping these pass. Can't stand feeling so nauseous. Am assuming that side effects kick in every time dosage is raised?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Courtney
>
>
Posted by Ron Hill on January 29, 2012, at 5:31:47
In reply to Marplan is GREAT!, posted by maoi_wowee on January 17, 2009, at 10:46:04
maoi_wowee,
After two years since your start-up on Marplan, is it still working well for you?
-- Ron
--------------------------------------
> After 6+ months on Marplan, I'm wondering why more people aren't trying this drug...
>
> I spent multiple years on Parnate and gave Nardil a long trial; I'm finding Marplan to be the most stable, reliable and (in some ways) most effective of the three (and it certainly has the fewest side-effects).
>
> So, my question is, why aren't more people giving it a shot?
Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2012, at 18:27:46
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » maoi_wowee, posted by Ron Hill on January 29, 2012, at 5:31:47
Ron hi how are you doing? Hoping well. Let me know? Phillipa
Posted by Ron Hill on January 30, 2012, at 7:56:06
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » Ron Hill, posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2012, at 18:27:46
> Ron hi how are you doing? Hoping well. Let me know? Phillipa
Hi Jan,
My bipolar II ultra rapid cycling finally stopped a year-and-a-half ago when I added Valdoxan (agomelatine) to my med combo. I stay in full remission provided I take my vitamins and, of course, take my meds.
I need to take time to write a post in which I provide the details.
I guess I'm like everyone else who gets well on this site. I got well and then I went away.
My 14 years of hell are over, and I can't begin to express how thankful I am.
More later.
-- Ron
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2012, at 18:39:52
In reply to Re: Marplan is GREAT! » Phillipa, posted by Ron Hill on January 30, 2012, at 7:56:06
Ron wish you would. Miss you but glad for you that you no longer need this site. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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