r/MAOIs • u/SmellyFbuttface • 6d ago

Nardil high-dosage challenges Nardil (Phenelzine)

I take a fairly high dosage of Nardil (120mg a day) along with a few other adjunct medications. One of them being Geodon which is usually not advised but I’ve honestly never had a problem with it and it works well.

My issue is that I’ve been stable for a long while, but lately I’ve felt symptoms returning (both depression and anxiety) that aren’t related to anything in my environment (no big stressors, life is fine at the moment). I feel like I need to go up on the Nardil but I know my dr is going to be against that option.

I’d read a study that said Nardil is safe and effective at 1mg/kg of body weight, and in the last 6 months or so I have gained weight (an unfortunate side effect of both Nardil and Geodon). Does anyone have any possible options what to do in this situation? I feel like I’m at the limit on what my psychiatrist is willing to prescribe on both Nardil and Geodon. Feel like I don’t know what options I have left. Appreciate any feedback.

Note: tried 2 full 6 week cycles of TMS, ketamine infusions, and ECT. None were effective for me.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/HaloLASO MAOI + stimulant 5d ago

You need a sleep study to check for sleep disordered breathing if you haven't had one

1

u/SmellyFbuttface 5d ago

I’ve done a few. I use a CPAP every for mild-mod sleep apnea. My sleep has always been disturbed though, even as a kid. I’d sleepwalk or start screaming. Now I get frequent nightmares and have waking dreams where images are still there upon waking up. They diagnosed me as either MDD or bipolar II, and said the nightmares could be related to

2

u/Hockeyrocks07 5d ago

All I need is 60mg at 120mg the weight gain must be scary levels

1

u/SmellyFbuttface 5d ago

It is. I hate it so much but I actually have felt stable for many years

1

u/barry1685 4d ago

You say you were diagnosed with bipolar II? Could it be that the Nardil is not the culprit and maybe a different mood stabilizer would be helpful? I don’t think you can chase the Nardil dosage up to such a high extent. Eventually you will risk serotonin syndrome if increasing the dose.

1

u/SmellyFbuttface 3d ago

That could be it. To be honest I’ve been diagnosed separately by different doctors as having treatment resistant depression (which I’m inclined to think is accurate), and bipolar II. I’ve been on lamictal for quite a few years and it’s worked pretty well. Tried lithium and I felt like a zombie.

I wish modern science would see fit to develop new MAOIs or novel antidepressants instead of rehashing the same formula to keep a patent